SOUTH Wilts' hopes of stealing a march at the top of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League were ruined by persistent rain on Saturday.

The eagerly anticipated top of the table clash was one of only a handful of games in the Southern League to make a start but after two short stoppages, a prolonged mid-afternoon downpour put paid to any further play.

South Wilts had won the toss and invited BAT to bat and after being in initial trouble with the early loss of Neal Parlane, well caught by Russell Rowe off Lysander Wolf and Richard Kenway, who top-edged a hook off Alan Kruger, they had progressed through David Banks, 58 not out, and Ricky Rawlins, 31, to 130-3 off 32 overs.

"It was fairly evenly balanced," said skipper Rob Wade.

"A couple of quick wickets and we may have run through them, but equally a good partnership could have set a good target."

No games in Premier Division One were completed, so at the halfway point of the season South Wilts remain the surprise leaders of the league.

Wade admitted his side would have been few people's choice at the start of the season and even more so after disappointing defeats to Bournemouth and Hampshire Academy in their opening two games.

However, the Salisbury club have since won five in succession to nose in front at the top.

Stars of the show so far include leading batsman Jason Laney, whose early season glut of runs saw him collect the Southern Electric player of the month for May.

Equally impressive is Alex Senneck, whose aggressive bowling has been near its peak on each occasion he has turned out for the club this season culminating in his superb 7-35 against Portsmouth.

South African recruit Alan Kruger, whose pacy bowling has ruffled a few feathers in the league has been another player to hit a rich vein of form.

Kruger has so far taken 18 league wickets but has been unfortunate on a number of occasions not to pick up more.

However, he has also contributed with the bat with a 50 and an important 40 in the win against Havant.

"There have been some good individual moments, but more often than not, it has been good all-round team performances that have been the key to our success," explained Wade.

"What also should be remembered is that we have three under-17s in the squad as well, so it is looking good for the future."

However, South Wilts will be weakened for the rest of the season by the absence of serviceman Senneck, but should have Russell Rowe, Tim Lamb and James Hayward available.

Summing up the season so far, Wade said: "We could have gone through the first half and finished up with a 100-per-cent record, but just as easily we could have had suffered five defeats.

"The teams in this division are so closely matched. We didn't expect to be at the top, but we are and hopefully we can stay there.

"My aim at the start of the season was to try and finish in the top four to get into the newly formed end of season play-off trophy. I suppose my aspirations have changed, but I still think that would be a good achievement. It's important for us to not get carried away."

On Saturday, South Wilts face a trip to Bashley, which traditionally has not been a successful hunting ground for the club. The table toppers will be hoping to put an end to that record and will select the team from Wade, Laney, Rowe, Glasson, Abel, Chandler, Cranch, Hayward, Kruger, Wolf, Holewell, Smith, Tomlinson.

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