SOUTH Wilts will go into Saturday's visit to third-placed St Cross Symondians with an emphatic 49-point advantage at the top of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League.

They are in seventh heaven after beating Bournemouth by 91 runs at Chapel Gate – their seventh straight win, and one which makes the Salisbury club firm favourites to land their first Premier Division title for nine years.

Steve Warner was South Wilts’ bowling hero, taking 5-30 as Bournemouth were rushed out for 90 in response to the visitors’ 181-9.

“Once again, we played some top cricket, with Steve Warner and Jack Sheppard taking eight of the wickets,” enthused South Wilts captain James Hayward.

“A score of 181 was a very decent total, but we bowled and fielded well again and, generally speaking, are playing some very good cricket.

“Steve Warner’s not had a lot of bowling this season but we had few spin options against Bournemouth, and he came to the party with a five-wicket haul.”

Although they lost two wickets in quick succession and were 64-3 at one stage, South Wilts gradually built a decent total.

Promoted to opener in the absence of Australian Glenn Maxwell, who was on Hampshire t20 duty at Canterbury, Steve Riddle (33) gave South Wilts a sound start.

But it was the fourth-wicket partnership between Owen Alsop (36) and Hayward (25), which lifted South Wilts to 127-4, that proved most significant for the side.

Scott Barlow (4-40) and Matt Metcalfe (3-85) toiled away, bowling 46 of Bournemouth’s 64 overs and got wickets as South Wilts went for the runs towards the end of their innings.

James Hibberd (22 not out), Rob Wade and Thomas Morton did their bit as South Wilts reached 181-9.

Nick Park (46) batted almost the entire length of Bournemouth’s reply and was eventually ninth man out.

Warner (5-30) and Sheppard (3-18) tore into Bournemouth’s middle-order, reducing the hosts from 47-1 to 90 all out. The result has left Bournemouth bottom of the table.

*South Wilts will play Bridgwater in the ECB Kingfisher Cup fifth round at Bemerton on Sunday, July 8. The Somerset club, who lead at the West of England Premier League, beat Bovey Tracey by 86 runs in their rain delayed group final.