South Wilts lost eight wickets for 41 runs in a catastrophic collapse which cost them victory over Bournemouth in their weather-delayed start to the ECB Southern Premier League season.

Openers Tom Cheater (48) and James Degg (32) put on 70 and after another positive knock by Harry Broderick (45), South Wilts were 146-2 and seemingly set to overhaul Bournemouth’s total of 205

But when Broderick was bowled by Ollie Breckon (3-32), the South Wilts innings fell to pieces.

Archie Fairfax-Ross and Ben Draper were among those to perish as the next five wickets fell for only 16 runs - two to left-arm spinner Connor Smith (2-22) - as South Wilts tumbled to 162-7.

Simon Woodruff (2-40) took two of the last three wickets to fall, Robbie Pack’s one-handed catch to remove Aussie Ryan Freeman being Bournemouth’s Champagne moment.

Bournemouth didn’t make the best of starts and were 40-3, with Henry Dunlop (2-40) having Ben Rogers and South African Aidan Meyer caught behind.

But teenager James van Gool (57) got his head down and with support from Woodruff doubled the Lions’ score.

Tom Robinson, who later took two South Wilts wickets, made an important 33 but at 162-8 and after a three-wicket input by left-armer Fairfax-Ross (3-41), Bournemouth were still some way short of a competitive score.

Cue emerging Dorset prospect Connor Smith to clout a six and six boundaries in a quick-fire 41 to see Bournemouth to a more comfortable 205 all out.

n Max Allen starred in a century opening partnership with Tom Pearce as South Wilts II celebrated a second consecutive Southern Premier Division 3 victory.

Allen hit three sixes and eight fours in his 87 and alongside Pearce (36) provided South Wilts with the platform from which they were able to post 240 and beat hosts Hook & Newnham Basics II by 84 runs.

Buoyed by a 122-run start, South Wilts lost five wickets for 20 runs (Luke Burgess 4-47) before Alex Vincent (31), George Nash (20) and Nick Partridge (18) consolidated affairs.

Mulhammad Rizwan (42) and Jaiden Hall (25) gave Hook a 73-run start, but Pearce (3-17) broke through with his left-arm spin as four wickets fell cheaply.

Kevin Light (36) and Tom Dyer (21) halted the slide but Hook’s last six wickets fell for 28 runs, three of them to William Langdown (36) as the innings ended at 156 all out.