TOM Morton struck his second successive Southern Electric Premier League century as South Wilts got the better of a drawn game with Havant Park. 

It was Morton’s third league century of the campaign and with 733 runs for the season, now leaves him well clear in the race for the Southern Electric individual batting prize. 

South Wilts skipper James Hayward had little hesitation in choosing to bat first on winning the toss at Havant Park and it certainly looked to be the correct decision as the Salisbury side's openers Morton and Tom Cowley put together a steady first wicket partnership. 

Morton was in confident mood from the off, stroking the ball around the ground effortlessly, while 15-year-old Cowley played the anchor role.

Cowley had moved to 20 and the score had progressed to 71 when Chris Morgan turned one past his bat to bowl him.

Another success was not long in coming as Hayward was trapped lbw by Morgan at 77-2. 

Eddie Abel joined Morton and fresh from their double century partnership from the previous week, the pair set about building a commanding total for the visitors.

Morton has been in terrific nick all season, but Abel struggled early on. Yet in the past four weeks he has suddenly exploded into life and looks the player South Wilts know he is.

Abel looked untroubled as he followed Morton to a half century. 

Morton, after reaching lunch at Totton the previous week just eight runs short of a century, went even better here as he reached three figures in the final over before lunch - another terrific effort from the South Wilts vice-captain. 

Lunch brought little reprieve for the Havant fielders as Morton and Abel continued their progress.

Morton had hit 15 boundaries in his 172-ball stay and had made 134 when he holed out at long on off Sam Walker at 214-3.

The partnership had been worth 137, and it was typical of Morton’s hunger for runs this season that he was disappointed to not go on to an even bigger score. 

In the push for late runs and a declaration, South Wilts lost three cheap wickets.

Abel was bowled by Andrew Hornbuckle for a superb 84, which included ten boundaries. James Hibberd finished unbeaten on 27, which included one huge six into the nearby rail track as South Wilts declared at 287-6 in the 63rd over. 

The visitors knew it was going to be a hard task to bowl the hosts out and gain maximum points, but they were determined to give it a good go and they got some early reward as Simon Branston cleaned up opener Mark Miller. 

However, Chris Morgan and Pete Hopson negotiated the bowling relatively easily on a placid surface.

Morgan had moved to 41 and the score to 77 when Paul Draper produced a superb delivery to spin past his bat and hit the off stump. 

This only brought Richard Hindley to the crease and together with an increasingly confident Hopson, Havant continued to build a position from which they could launch a victory charge. 

The score had reached 126 and Hibberd had turned to off-spin by the time the next South Wilts success came when Hindley, 26, was adjudged lbw. 

Jez Bulled continued to make a positive effort with Hopson, but the run-rate was increasing steadily.

With the last hour of play just beginning, Havant were aiming at the winning draw total of 275. Hayward set a defensive field for the first time and it immediately brought reward.

Hopson, 71, pulled tamely to Rob Wade at mid-on and then Bulled, 24, was bowled as Branston struck twice to turn 173-3 to 174-5. 

With a lame draw now the more likely outcome, Havant to their credit chose to continue their attack. Ollie Jones came to the crease and played a superb innings.

He tore into the South Wilts attack and virtually single-handedly gave Havant a great chance of a winning draw if not a win. 

The score had progressed to 237-5 when, with Havant needing 38 off five overs for the winning draw, the game was turned on its head.

Jones, 50, drove Branston, 4-78, to Hibberd at cover.

In the space of just two overs South Wilts closed in on an unlikely win.

Gareth Ransley ran himself out and then Sam Pittman enjoyed a magical few minutes. 

The young wicket-keeper, standing in for Tom Morton, took a superb caught behind off James Hibberd to remove Sam Walker and off the very next ball took a superb stumping off Hibberd , 3-76, and Havant had slumped to 240-9. 

South Wilts had three overs to get the crucial last wicket but for the only time in the game Havant opted to play out for a losing draw and they did so without undue alarm to close on 259-9, Jarrad Daniels, 26 not out. 

Hayward was not too disappointed to not secure maximum points. 

“Full credit to Havant for their positive approach and it made for an entertaining game. We tried our best but just could not get them out but we are happy to get a decent 17-point return from the game.” 

The result, coupled with leaders Bournemouth’s comprehensive win over Ventnor, means that South Wilts have slipped a further six points adrift and are now 30 points behind in second place.

This weekend’s match with Bournemouth is therefore a crunch contest for both of the top two.

South Wilts will be keen to win to reduce the arrears while a win for Bournemouth could almost seal the title.