TOM Morton and James Hayward hit personal best scores and shared an incredible record-breaking triple-century partnership as South Wilts’ relentless pursuit of a unique fourth successive ECB Southern Electric Premier Division title went into over-drive with a convincing 137-run win over Havant.

Morton hit 164 and Hayward 141 – and shared exactly 300 for the third wicket.

It was a record Premier Division stand.

South Wilts piled up a huge 321-4 before bowling Havant, their only serious title challengers, out for 184.

The double over Havant makes South Wilts hot favourites for yet another crown.

They enjoy a substantial 35-point advantage going into the four-match home run of 50-over cricket, which brings the curtain down on the season.

South Wilts host the bottom club Sarisbury Athletic at Bemerton on Saturday, before rounding off the campaign against Bashley Rydal (away), Burridge (home) and at Alton.

“It’s a fantastic position to be in and what James and myself achieved against Havant will long live in the memory,” smiled Morton.

Ironically, South Wilts could hardly have made a worse start to a match which Havant needed to win to close the 14-point gap that separated the two title contenders at start of play.

Andy Gorvin, generally under bowled, had Eddie Abel caught at slip off the first ball of the day and in his next over had Jack Mynott, the Wiltshire Minor Counties batsman, impressively stumped down the leg-side by the seasoned Jez Bulled.

“That wasn’t in the game plan,” Hayward laughed.

“Tom and myself had to knuckle down and bat responsibly to wrest the initiative away from Havant.

“Once we’d done that, we just powered on and batted them out of the game.”

They certainly did that – the onlooking vice-president’s luncheon party being treated to a sumptuous display of batting by the South Wilts captain and Hayward, his predecessor.

Morton came in at lunch 93 not out, while Hayward – whose first six scoring shots all sizzled to the boundary – was unbeaten with 79.

But as they tucked in to their cold meat salad, Havant must have feared the onslaught that was about to follow.

Their attack – minus Hampshire’s Brad Wheal who, like Sean Terry, pulled out of the game the night before – was torn to shreds as Morton quickly reached his second 100 of the season and Hayward raised his bat to the crowd soon after.

There were four sixes and boundaries galore – Morton hit 25 and Hayward 17 in all – as the pair took their stand to 295, a new Premier Division record.

It passed the previous highest set by BAT Sports pair Neal Parlane and Damian Shirazi against the Hampshire Academy in 2004.

Amid the mayhem, Morton passed his previous highest of 161 (v Burridge last season) and Hayward bettered his previous best 120 not out against Bournemouth in 2010.

South Wilts called time at 321-4 and then saw Peter Hopson (26) and Rob Gibson (26) provide a lively 52-run start.

It wasn’t to last. They dipped to 89-3 and, after a rally by Gorvin (32) and Stu Ransley (22), plunged from 141-4 to 184 all out, with Ryan Duffield (3-53) the most successful of the six wicket-taking bowlers.

“”It’s a massive dent for us,” admitted Havant player/coach Hopson.

“We were without four front line players, but haven’t given up the fight.

“We’ve just got to keep playing our best cricket and hope someone turns South Wilts over.”

n SOUTH Wilts were knocked out of the ECB NatWest Club t20 when they were dismissed for 108 and beaten by six wickets by Wimbledon in the south regional finals.

It was a nightmare day for South Wilts, whose journey there took four hours. Wimbledon went on to beat Blackheath in the final and clinch a home tie in the area final against Exmouth at Church Road on Sunday week, August 16.

South Wilts are back in t20 action on Sunday against the Hampshire Academy in the Southern Electric Cup semi-finals.