IT’S approaching crunch time in the ECB Southern Premier League title race.

But unlike in previous seasons when South Wilts and Havant have dominated the field, Bashley (Rydal) and Burridge are in the thick of the mix this time around.

Havant are effectively 20 points clear at the top but, as the Premier Division reverts back to its 50-over format for the remaining five weeks of the season, the championship race is as open as it ever has been, writes Mike Vimpany.

More often than not, matches between Havant and South Wilts have decided the title – but that won’t be the case when they face off at Havant Park tomorrow, 1pm.

“But if they beat us and extend their 20-point lead, it will make it difficult for the rest of us playing catch-up,” says South Wilts captain James Hayward.

“We’ve got to go there and beat them, simple as that.”

South Wilts’ past four title successes have largely been based on the back of victories over Havant.

“We’ve got the Indian Sign over them, there’s no doubting that, but it will count for nothing tomorrow,” he added.

After an indifferent mid-season spell, culminating in a shock eight-wicket defeat by the Hampshire Academy, South Wilts have started to string some positive results together.

Recent wins against St Cross Symondians and Lymington have coincided with a return to form by South Australia Under-19 captain Jake Winter, who hit a classy hundred last weekend.

South Wilts, who host the ECB NatWest Club T20 regional finals at Bemerton on Sunday, are unchanged.

Havant, disappointingly knocked out of the ECB Royal London Cup club championship by Weybridge this week, are without Jez Bulled, their influential lower-order batsman and wicketkeeper, who has a fractured finger.

Simon Loat will don the gloves and, potentially, have five slow bowlers to keep to.

Havant: Walker, Gorvin, Hindley, Gibson, Stone, Morgan, Ransley, Hopson, Matthews, Loat, Vanderslik.

South Wilts: Hayward, Winter, Mynott, Cranch, Hibberd, Pittman, Booth, Evans, Franklin, Draper, Warner.

Third-placed Bashley (Rydal), one point behind South Wilts, are unchanged for the visit of the Hampshire Academy, who are without England Under-19 debutant Josh McCoy and, probably, in-form Tom Scrivens. Ben Duggan and Harry Gadd will probably be drafted in.

Bashley (Rydal): Porter, Gates, S Ridley, Vaughan, Bailiff, Currie, Digby, Jacques, Lilley, C Ridley, Thomson.

Academy: Freeston, Taylor, F Organ, Goodwin, Gaff, Duggan, Searle, Mead, Z Organ, Pardoe, Samuel.

BURRIDGE are expected to be unchanged as they bid to pursue their title ambitions at the expense of Ventnor, who are still winless and bottom of the pile after 11 attempts.

Ventnor: Snell, Cheek, Glendenning, Herridge, Corbin, Buckman, A Horton, Whyte, M Horton M, Willis, Cox.

Captain James Park and elder brother Nick are notable absentees from the New Milton side to visit Alton. It is understood there were disciplinary issues arising from last week’s nine-wicket defeat by Burridge.

New Milton: R Beck, Arnold, Haggaty, Wakefield, Elliott, Edwards, L Beck, Hall, Collison, Loader, Watts.

Alton: Hutton, Janmohammed, Hammond, S Myers, M P Heffernan, M J Heffernan, J Myers, Mortimer, Scott, Salmon, Ballinger.