SOUTH Wilts skipper James Hayward has told his team-mates they must improve – and improve fast – if they are to secure a fifth straight ECB Southern Premier League title.

Their championship crown lies ajar after the Hampshire Academy produced the biggest Premier Division shock in years by thrashing the four-time winners by eight wickets on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground.

With Magdalen College, Oxford all-rounder Tom Scriven taking 5-19, South Wilts were shot out for a dismal 114.

The Academy polished off the target inside 24 overs, with Hampshire’s Brad Taylor hitting 61 not out.

The win was the Academy’s first in eight games – but the outcome left South Wilts 18 points off the pace at the top of the table.

South Wilts, meanwhile, have told all their players that tonight’s Thursday net practice session is compulsory.

“That is the way we have achieved our past successes, by hard work.

“We’ve got to improve if we are to win this title again and that means practising and practising hard,” Hayward emphasised.

Hayward had no excuses for what happened at the Ageas Bowl and instead heaped praise on the Academy bowlers.

“They bowled quite superbly and some of the wicket-taking balls were unplayable.

“Sometimes you have to hold you hand up and say ‘well done’ and that was the case on this occasion,” he said.

Josh McCoy (2-31) kick-started the SW demise with the score at 21 by dismissing South Australia teen Alex Winter and Will Wade in successive deliveries.

“We never recovered from that double blow,” Hayward confessed.

“We lost wickets all the way down the line, with Jack Mynott (40) and then Sam Pittman at the end the only players to make much impression.

“It seems to have been the story of our season.”

South Wilts lost a third wicket at 34 and then three in a row at 61, with 17-year old Scriven doing the damage with his ‘wicket-to-wicket’ medium-pace.

“He was outstanding, as were all the bowlers,” enthused Academy manager Charlie Freeston.

“Tom’s been highly effective in all three facets of the game and has enjoyed a great start to the season with the Under-17 county side.

“He doesn’t give you any freebies and batsmen have to play him all the time.”

Left-hander Sam Pittman, who hit a defiant 29 not out later on, kept the South Wilts innings going until shortly after lunch.

Luke Evans became Scriven’s fifth victim – the Berkshire youngster also ran out Ben Draper – as the defending champions sank to 114 all out.

The Academy polished off the target without many worries, but had Felix Organ (13) stumped off Rob Franklin at 32-1.

Brad Taylor, who accounted for Mynott during his tidy eight over spell, was content to enjoy some middle time as the Hampshire youngsters cruised home.

He hit 11 fours in his unbeaten 61, while man-of-the-match Scriven made 36.