SOUTH Wilts are all set for a season-defining visit to table-topping Havant on Saturday (1pm) after a clean-cut century by South Australian teenager Jake Winter climaxed a thrilling 128-run win over Lymington.

And it was a clash in which the defending Southern Premier League champions clinched with only eight balls to spare.

Winter stroked a classy 109 as South Wilts posted 305-7 and gave themselves 58 overs to bowl the visitors out.

But Lymington effectively shut up shop and played for a draw from 135-7 onwards, leaving South Wilts a teasing and testing final hour to push for victory.

Lymington’s lower order put up a solid rearguard action, but South Wilts finally broke their resistance in the penultimate over when James Hibberd bowled last man Matt Metcalfe to leave the visitors 177 all out.

“The wicket and the win was critical as our season – and chances of retaining the Premier Division title – are going to hinge on what happens when we visit Havant next Saturday,” vice-captain Hibberd explained.

“We’re effectively 20 points behind Havant, so we’ve got to beat them. It’s as simple as that.”

Winter has emerged from an uncertain spell with the bat to demonstrate the class that has already seen the Adelaide youngster capped by Australia at Under-19 level.

“He’s had a few technical issues with his batting, but has now gone back to his natural game and hits the ball as cleanly as a full-time professional, which he wants to become,” Hibberd continued.

“Jake struck it beautifully against Lymington, particularly straight and on the off-side.”

Winter plundered three sixes and 14 fours in a classy run-a-ball 109.

His opening stand with the ever-consistent Jack Mynott (64) yielded 166 and set South Wilts up for a 300-plus total.

“Everyone chipped in after that,” Hibberd added. “It was always a case if we could bowl them out.”

Ryan Scott (40) and Ben Rogers (23) gave Lymington a decent start, but the visitors became bogged down against some decent South Wilts bowling.

“I think it’s fair to say our seamers got more out of the pitch than they did, with Steve Warner bowling a pretty hostile spell at one point and Luke Evans (2-35) bowling a good spell too.”

But when Ed Ellis (31) was bowled by Rob Franklin (135-7), Lymington put up the barricades.

Lymington’s last three wickets fell at 165, 166 and 177, but South Wilts bowled a lot of balls between those runs.

Hibberd (3-14) eventually broke the back of the resistance and South Wilts wildly celebrated a crucial win when he bowled Alderbury-based Metcalfe with just eight balls of the game to go.