WHEN Havant reduced South Wilts to 15-5 and then 82-7 at lunch, it appeared the powerbase in ECB Southern Premier League cricket might be about to shift.

Except that South Wilts were able to show the resilience that has underlined their repeated championship qualities by turning the situation in their favour to such an extent they were only two wickets away from winning the opening Time Pennant match themselves when stumps were drawn.

Havant only seriously threatened their eventual 188 all out for a period after tea but, having reached 166-5, lost untimely wickets and were ultimately content to settle for a ‘winning draw’ at 178-8.

An overcast sky and a surface with a tinge of moisture were ideal bowling conditions and Havant pair Andy Gorvin (4-54) and Ben Walker (2-41) thrived, sending back five of South Wilts’ best in the opening nine overs.

Some of the South Wilts’ shot selection wasn’t the best in the circumstances, but credit to the new-ball pair, who ought to have set up a winning position for Havant.

“We weren’t patient enough and that’s someway due to us not having played enough cricket. We’re still under-cooked,” claimed SW skipper James Hayward.

South Wilts lost further wickets at 39 (Rob Franklin 20) and 87 (Sam Pittman 17) and when the resolute Joe Cranch (40) became a fourth victim for the promising Gorvin, the situation at 101-8 appeared dire.

Not so.

Ninth-wicket pair Steve Warner and Stephen Booth both hit 42 and, breaching the boundary rope on 12 occasions between them, added a precious 83 before Richard Hindley (3-37) put an end to a remarkable recovery.

“The lads batted really well after lunch and their stand enabled us to put a lot of pressure on them,” Hayward added.

South Wilts, with a competitive 188 on the board, had wrested the initiative away from the visitors and, when Warner (2-30) struck twice before tea, Havant were three down and on the back foot.

As a fascinating game ebbed and flowed, so Chris Stone (23) took the initiative – only to sky a catch to mid-on and then see young Harry Gadd snared at slip.

Havant 92-5. The advantage was now with South Wilts.

But when Gorvin, who is developing into a fine young cricketer, and Hindley added 74, the pendulum swung again.

Havant 166-5. Another 23 to win, with five wickets left and time on their side.

But Gorvin (68), who had glued things together, holed out in the deep and two further wickets fell; the tide turned again.

Hindley’s unbeaten 39 saw to it that South Wilts wouldn’t win it and the game was drawn: the most unexpected outcome after a game of fluctuating fortunes.

The draw leaves South Wilts in third place, ten points adrift of surprise packages Burridge, who they visit on Saturday (11.30am).