Havant have emerged the early ECB Southern Electric Premier League pace setters after beating Ventnor by five wickets to secure a third successive win.

Their triple spin attack called the tune on a predictably damp, bowler friendly Havant Park surface on which Ventnor collapsed from a bright start to 124 all out.

The Islanders did take five Havant wickets before man-of-the-match Stuart Ransley got the six-times champions across the line.

Teenage left-hander Ben Duggan (40), who has enjoyed a fine start to the season, and Tom Friend (28) provided Ventnor with a 45-run base, but once Rohan Kandiah had broken through wickets tumbled with regularity.

Duggan, tall and upright, eventually fell as one of three victims to Ransley (3-25) at 86-5, but only Chris Ridley (21) offered any worthwhile support.

Left-armers Stevie Matthews (3-20) and Chris Morgan (2-18) plied their trade equally effectively as the Ventnor innings ebbed away.

Havant stuttered as they chased down a comfortable victory.

Mark Holmes (3-40) did the damage as they lost two wickets in the mid-30s and two more at 55 before Ransley (28 not out), with support from Jez Bulled (19) and James Christian (17 not out), got them home.

Much more cricket in today's Daily Echo