SOUTH Wilts registered another superb performance to defeat last season's champions Havant in a thrilling match at Lower Bemerton.

Adie Holewell smashed an unbeaten 21 off just 13 balls to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and send the league leaders tumbling to the narrowest of defeats.

With 12 runs required off the last over, Holewell seized his moment of glory with both hands.

He smashed consecutive fours off the third and fourth balls to leave South Wilts jubilant and Havant in despair after a pulsating game of cricket involving two quality sides.

Earlier visiting skipper, Paul Gover, had been highly delighted to win the toss and bat first on a super batting strip on a very hot day.

What he had not reckoned on however, was the way South Wilts came out of the traps.

Alex Senneck, making his home debut, had Havant in all sorts of trouble as he knocked over Perry, Carson, Sears and Snell to leave them reeling at 32-4 off 11 overs.

With Jimmy Seeary bowling a tidy spell from the top end, Havant were all at sea.

The change bowlers did not give much ground either and they stumbled to 56-5, and then 134-8.

The champions and early season pace-setters are made of stern stuff though, and they showed great resilience to recover from this situation to post 184-8 off 50 overs.

Much of this was down to Richard Hindley who made a combative 68 before being snared by the guile of Caines.

Man of the match Senneck's figures of 4-34 did not flatter him as he suffered a late onslaught from tail-enders Loat and Benton, who put on 50 for the ninth wicket.

Although South Wilts would have accepted this total to chase at the start, they were disappointed not to be chasing a much smaller target.

Havant were pleased to have given themselves a chance and they certainly intended to take it, as tight bowling and fielding never allowed the home side to gain control.

Paul Draper batted fluently for his 38 but when he was out in the 16th over, were uncomfortable at 52-3. Yet this was the stage that the Salisbury club produced a match-defining partnership as skipper Rob Wade and Caines took the score to 114 with still 16 overs to go.

They began to look in control but the match dramatically swung back in Havant's favour as Caines needlessly ran himself out and a few quiet overs quickly passed.

When Wade departed for 38, South Wilts required 50 off eight overs and looked out of the game. However, the Army duo of Senneck and Houghton kept them in the hunt, before Holewell's enterprise secured the win.