How was that? This South Wilts appeal for lbw was turned down. DA6176P5HAVANT put a dent in South Wilts' title hopes with a comfortable five-wicket win at Lower Bemerton.

It brought to an end a remarkable 11 match unbeaten run which has taken the Salisbury side to the threshold of their first league title since 1990.

Batting first, South Wilts never really gained any momentum to their innings, thanks to tight bowling from Richard Pineo and James Ingram and superb fielding from the Havant side.

Openers Jason Laney and Russell Rowe both fell in the first half-hour and of the top six only skipper Rob Wade looked likely to break the shackles.

He was looking in great nick until he was trapped lbw by off-spinning namesake Chris Wade, 1-29, for 38.

As in the previous two weeks' victories it was down to the strength of the lower middle order that enabled South Wilts to post a challenging score.

Eddie Abel, 20, and Alan Kruger, 33, began the fightback before James Hayward's quick-fire 25 completed the innings at 205-8.

Havant made a good start, with Tom Cledwyn and Will Prozesky putting on 45 in ten overs.

Prozesky, who was extremely fortunate to survive an early lbw shout off Tomlinson, took the game to South Wilts.

Punishing anything remotely loose, after Tomlinson had removed Cledwyn's middle stump, he led Havant to 92-2.

South Wilts finally got Prozesky when Abel drew him into a false shot on 65, but with the run rate soaring, the damage had been done.

At 121-3, the champions-elect were back in with a shout, but they needed to get Andy Perry, 44, and Paul Gover early.

Again South Wilts were unfortunate not to get a decision against Perry when Kruger app-eared to have trapped him in front. But it took them until the 39th over before they removed the fourth-wicket pair in consecutive balls.

However, Simon James and Richard Pineo, who each finished with 20 not out, experienced few difficulties in scoring the 40 runs Havant required.

"We didn't bat particularly well," admitted Wade. "But 205 was a decent enough score on what was not that easy a wicket. With a little bit of luck you never know, but in the end they deserved their win."

His side face a tricky trip to Portsmouth on Saturday looking for the victory that would ensure they are crowned champions.

South Wilts' seconds were thrown a lifeline in their Division Three survival stakes thanks to a one-run victory which condemned opponents Leckford to the drop.

On a difficult wicket, Jamie Harvey, 32, held things together before George Shepherd, 49, and Jason Lynch, 35, took the score to a respectable 205-8.

In reply, Leckford looked to be edging to victory despite fine spells, notably by Ross Crick, 3-29. They required seven runs off the last over which ultimately became two off the last ball.

However, Steve Benbough juggled and then held onto a catch that gave them a chance to maintain their Premier League status.

On a soaking wicket from the previous day's downpours, South Wilts thirds dug in deep to eke out 160-7 against Ellingham with contributions from Al McCluskey, 30, Andy Stagg, 20, J-P Senekal, 25, Trevor Pittman, 25, and Adam Croutier, 22 not out.

Ellingham reached their target in relative comfort despite good bowling spells from Baz Street, 1-8 off five overs and Adam Croutier, 3-38.

Fine spin-bowling performances from Robert Pittman, 4-32, and Tom Pearce, 4-13, gave the club's fourth team a much-needed win.

They span their side to a 71-run victory against Colden Common after Chris Abel, 67, and Neil Burchill, 21, had been instrumental in posting a challenging 171.