James Hayward celebrated his first five-wicket haul in seven years – since June 2006 – as South Wilts swept into their ECB Royal London national club championship group final with a 102-run win over New Milton at Bemerton.

A talented left-arm spin all-rounder in his youth, Hayward seldom plays as a front line bowler these days, mainly due to South Wilts’s plentiful bowling options.

But Hayward showed his touch hadn’t deserted him by taking 5-19 as New Milton tumbled to 100 all out after South Wilts had posted 202-9.

He bagged the scalps of New Milton opener Mark House (40), Lee Beck and three tail-enders.

South Wilts were earlier given a solid start by Tom Morton (45) and Eddie Abel (43), but lost their way against spin, losing five wickets in relatively quick succession.

Joe Cranch (23) did his bit in the middle-order, but it was largely due to Steve Warner (30) and Stephen Booth (25) that South Wilts managed to put 202-9 on the board, spin pair Nick Elliott (3-23) and Ashley Collinson (3-49) sharing six of the wickets.

South Wilts’s group final opponents on June 23 are Gloucestershire side Frocester, who defended 163 to beat Wiltshire based Potterne (144) by 19 runs.

South Wilts are joined in the national last 32 by Premier League rivals Havant, who beat Horsham by four wickets after an absorbing tussle at Havant Park.

Horsham, cup winners in 2007, posted what appeared a modest 149-9 – former Solent University batsman Sam Attfield hitting 29 – but their total set up a fascinating run chase.

Havant dropped to 24-3, losing Pete Hopson, Ben Walker and Chris Morgan, all caught.

But Hampshire Academy prospect Andy Gorvin (23) began the resistance and along with man-of-the-match Stuart Ransley began to turn the tide.

Hedge End-based Ransley went on to hit a match winning 62 and, with Richard Hindley (28) alongside, steered Havant to within sight of victory before Horsham grabbed a handful of late scalps.

Havant are away to another Sussex Premier League side Roffey in their group final.