SOUTH Wilts' tremendous unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday with a defeat at the hands of league leaders Havant.

The reigning champions' three-wicket victory also dashed the Salisbury side's hopes of taking the crown after eight straight successes had marked them down as a serious title contenders.

Two wins from their remaining four matches will now be enough to see Havant cross the line first.

While the leaders have stuttered since the summer's Time games began, South Wilts have stormed up the table thanks to eight straight wins.

But the morning rain that wiped out play before lunch and resulted in the game's format being changed to a 48-over win/lose limited overs game was possibly not to their advantage.

After Havant skipper Richard Hindley had won the toss and opted to bowl first, Tom Morton and Mark House got South Wilts off to a great start.

With some well-struck boundaries, House and Morton moved serenely on to 72-0, but when the visitors introduced the experienced spin duo Hindley and Phil Loat, the going became tougher.

On a slow low surface the pair varied their pace expertly and the home batsmen struggled to maintain the innings' momentum.

House, 42, and Morton, 28, fell in quick succession to leading edges off Hindley to leave South Wilts at 86-2.

Eddie Abel felt the pressure of a slowing run rate and a rash shot off Hindley, 3-35, saw him depart for 19. And when skipper James Hayward followed soon after, South Wilts were certainly feeling the pressure.

They had dropped to 114-4, but Rob Wade batted sensibly as James Hibberd, 31, attempted to up the tempo.

However, when Loat had Hibberd, 31, caught in the deep at 162, the innings tailed off. Branston presented Loat, 3-48, with a third victim and then Laurie Prittipaul, 2-34, returned to have Tom Darby and Wade, 36, dismissed as South Wilts closed on 192-9 off their 48 overs.

At the break, skipper Hayward was fairly happy with his side's efforts.

"We were looking for 210-220, because it was not easy out there if you bowled wicket to wicket, but 192 gave us a chance."

Steve Dean and Ben Walker got Havant off to a brisk start as the hosts struggled to find the right line and length on the wicket.

However, on 39, Hibberd took a terrific diving slip catch off Branston to remove Dean, 19.

Lawrie Prittipaul joined Ben Walker as South Wilts turned to spin in a bid to emulate Havant's success earlier in the day.

The decision paid dividends - Tom Morton provided the breakthrough with a spectacular leg-side stumping off a James Hayward wide to dismiss the ex-Hamp-shire all-rounder Prittipaul for three.

In the next over, Stuart Ransley prodded speculatively forward to Paul Draper to be plumb lbw and then Will Prozesky was visibly relieved to survive a huge first ball appeal.

Havant then sank to 77-4 as Wade took a fine low slip catch off Hayward to see Ben Walker, 34, on his way.

But the champions were determined to keep their title bid on course.

Skipper Hindley and Prozesky dug in and gradually got the scoreboard ticking over again.

South Wilts probed for a breakthrough and the batsmen certainly rode their luck as some huge heaves across the line saw them survive by the skin of their teeth.

However, Hindley and Prozesky did survive and their fifth wicket partnership proved to be crucial.

When Hibberd returned to have Prozesky, 37, lbw, South Wilts still had a glimmer at 145-5, but Jez Bulled joined Hindley and they appeared to be cruising to victory.

South Wilts' ground has been notorious this season for its close finishes and the drama had certainly not ended yet.

With Branston struggling on his return to the attack, Wade was handed the dubious honour of bowling three of the last five overs and in the 46th, a superb return from the deep from Tom Darby resulted in a complete mix-up - Wade collected the ball and threw the stumps down to dismiss Hindley for 42.

With six needed off the last two overs, Hibberd did his best as he had Abrahams bowled, but a single and a cruel four leg byes, left Wade having to bowl a maiden to secure a tie.

Bulled, 23 not out, was on strike though and he clipped the third ball away to secure a tension-filled win for the leaders.

Afterwards, Hayward was full of praise for both sides: "Hats off to Havant.

"They managed a difficult run chase well and Richard Hindley played a crucial captain's innings.

"We gave it our best shot but Havant just did enough. We have to pick ourselves up now and win our remaining four games to secure second and just hope that Havant slip up."

Next up for South Wilts is a trip to Andover on Saturday.

5:14pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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