SOUTH Wilts skipper James Hayward is contemplating the wisdom of winning the toss and batting on wet pitches after watching his top order blown over for the second ECB Southern Premier Division match running.

A fortnight ago, he backed his batsmen to cope in demanding conditions at Bashley (Rydal) and saw his title defenders sink to 38-4 and later a six-wicket defeat, the team’s first reverse since last July.

He chose to bat again when newly-promoted New Milton came visiting Bemerton – but was able to play his Get Out of Jail card when a pre-lunch downpour led to the match being abandoned.

South Wilts were struggling at 65-4 after 35 overs against New Milton when the heavens opened and flooded the Bemerton pitch.

Dan Loader cleaned bowled both Eddie Abel (1) and Australian teenager Jake Winter (0) before Hayward (16) and Jack Mynott (37) began to repair the damage.

But both batsmen were dismissed before the rain ruined New Milton’s prospects of a third successive Premier Division victory - and left Hayward a relieved man.

With drier weather this past week, Hayward may get a drier surface to bat on when winless Ventnor visit South Wilts on Saturday.

But there will be no room for error this time as South Wilts’ vice-presidents will be casting a critical eye on proceedings as they hold their mid-summer lunch with the four-time champions in an unusual position of having to play catch-up in their quest to retain the title.

Leading SPL wicket-taker Matt Metcalfe took both the Alton wickets to fall as the Brewers lurched to 27-2, while visiting St Cross Symondians were 40-2 (Tom Foyle 26) against table-topping Bashley (Rydal) when play was abandoned.

The top clash between second-placed Burridge and Havant was postponed after two umpire’s inspections, while the Island ground at Newclose was so wet the Hampshire Academy didn’t even travel for their match with Ventnor.