Matt Buckingham curbed his normal aggressive instincts and knuckled down to make an unbeaten half-century which carried promoted Hook & Newnham Basics to a tense one-wicket win over Burridge – and a maiden success in the ECB Southern Premier League.

The Hook vice-captain hit 57 not out as his side squeezed past a Burridge total of 168 by the skin of their teeth, Buckingham batting 99 balls in a crucial stay at the crease after a four-wicket spell by Hilio De Abreu dented their ambitions.

Comfortably placed at 71-2 (Ben Thane 29), Hook lost four wickets for 36 runs and slipped to 107-6 before losing further wickets at 130 and 154.

South African De Abreu took 4-37, but as the tension mounted, neither he nor his other five wicket taking bowlers were unable to shift Buckingham, left, whose patience was rewarded with the winning runs in the 43rd over.

Earlier, Burridge got themselves in a terrible pickle against Shane Brewer (3-39) and Jack Murrell (2-22) and were tottering at 28-5 when Dan Stancliffe (24) joined Azim Chowdhury (20) in an innings reviving half-century partnership.

But with Rich Willcock (2-26) and Aniket Divecha (2-27) making deeper inroads, Burridge sank to 119-9 before last pair Will Candy (38) and Oli Southon (18) added another 49 to provide the hosts with a competitive score.

“It was certainly a very gutsy effort by the Burridge lower order to post 168,” praised Vince Gardner, Hook’s Senior Cricket manager.

“Our run chase was always going to be tough, but Matt Buck held his nerve. It was very unlike Matt to score so slowly but, oh boy, we needed that win.”