Can anyone halt the South Wilts juggernaut ?

That’s the burning question on the local cricket circuit after the three-time champions steamrollered Havant to make themselves firm favourites for a unique fourth title.

They beat Havant by 72 runs in their own backyard – the margin of defeat flattering the hosts, who were comfortably second best and largely outplayed.

South Wilts scored an ‘above-par’ 248-9 before ripping out Havant’s top three batsmen with only 11 runs on the board and later having their long term arch rivals reeling at 53-6.

Richard Hindley’s 75, which led the late order resistance, helped Havant collect some bonus points and finished well adrift 176 all out.

“We played well from the start. We were very aggressive early on and took the game to them,” said skipper Tom Morton, who lost the toss.

“By the time Havant brought their spinners on, we had some momentum and the pressure was on them. “That was a key phase of the game.”

South Wilts certainly came out of the traps at speed and had 100 on the board by the 16th over.

Eddie Abel showed intent with a big six in his quick 11, but Morton, with seven boundaries in a forceful 53, and Hampshire’s Sean Terry (36) lifted the score into treble figures.

James Hayward (35) and, more particularly, Joe Cranch with a timely 57 in the middle-order, put South Wilts firmly in the driving seat.

“Joe’s been a bit short of runs recently, but he’s so useful coming in at certain situations, as he can do things others can’t.

“He hits the old ball hard and his fifty effectively took the game away from them,” Morton added.

Havant’s slow bowlers clawed things back in the ten overs immediately before tea – skipper Stuart Ransley taking 4-56 – as South Wilts lost four wickets for 17 more runs.

Nonetheless, 248-9 was a competitive and ‘above par’ score – as it proved.

Havant needed their top three to put 100 on the board to give them a chance of winning.

But with Ben Walker out second ball and Ransley following soon after, they were quickly 2-2 and soon after 11-3, with Andy Gorvin Morton’s third victim behind the stumps.

James Hibberd (3-25) and Ryan Duffield (3-31), who did the early damage, were simply too good for the batsmen.

“Those two have been superb in recent weeks. They’ve got us off to such good starts, taking wickets and building up pressure,” Morton said.

It was all over bar the shouting once Havant had fallen to a desperate 53-6.

Richard Hindley is always a player who relishes a scrap in trying circumstances and his 75 gave Havant’s reply an air of respectability.

Jez Bulled (32) and Cam Prentice (32) gave support as Havant chalked up some bonus points, but overall were second best to a stronger than ever South Wilts unit which will take some stopping to lift the Premier Division frown once again.