The 1st XI produced another excellent response to secure victory in their penultimate game at Sarisbury, all but confirming 2nd place in the Southern Premier League.

The 2nd XI are CHAMPIONS! ? A dominant performance secured the Hants Division 2A title, with promotion a thoroughly deserved reward for a superb season.

The 3rd XI powered past Great Durnford to keep their promotion hopes alive – it all comes down to the final week. Let's hope the weather doesn't let us down.

And the 4th XI produced a fantastic all-round display at Shrewton to secure their Division 5E status for next season, with plenty of encouragement for what is to come.

1st XI – Victory at Sarisbury all but seals 2nd place
South Wilts 160 for 2 (22pts) v Sarisbury Athletic 1st XI 158 all out (3pts) Won by 8 wickets

A trip down the road to Sarisbury for the penultimate game, and it was the hosts who won the toss and decided to have a bat. Sarisbury posted 158 all out from 44.2 overs, before South Wilts replied with a resounding response to get to 160 for 2 in just 15 overs to win by 8 wickets.

Sarisbury, after a solid opening partnership, had Joe Baker (44) and Jack Robson (43) providing the backbone of the innings, with Nathaniel Hlabangana adding 19. South Wilts might have assumed we would be chasing something substantial.

However, the change in the tide came when the skipper introduced George Allom. George has been a great asset to the squad since moving to Salisbury this season, and we can't wait to see George continue to develop with South Wilts. He proved to be the standout bowling performance and produced a superb 3/16 from 10 overs, including two maidens. James Degg then came in with his own destructive spin spell, taking 4/9 from 4.2 overs, while Tom Cheater chipped in with 1/3.

Chasing 159, South Wilts made light work of the target. Openers James Degg and Harry Broderick were in no mood to stay longer than required and swiftly put on an opening stand of 99 before Degg fell for 38 from just 23 balls.

Josh Chippendale joined the mayhem and smashed a quick-fire 31 from just 16, but the standout was Harry Broderick, who went on to finish 80 not out from just 47 balls to wrap up a comprehensive victory as the squad move on to the final game of the season next week when the 1s host Lymington 1st XI to bring the curtain down on Southern Premier LEague cricket for the season.

2nd XI – CHAMPIONS! ?
South Wilts 120 for 4 (22pts) v Verwood 1st XI 116 all out (4pts) Won by 6 wickets

After the disappointment of last season dropping down, it is truly fantastic to get back to County 1 at the first attempt. The squad have created a great atmosphere and work ethic, and it has been a squad effort – some players moving up and some players having to move down, but everyone has contributed to becoming champions and driving the 2nd XI to get where the club need it, playing much closer to our 1s to ensure we maintain the talent we have in the club for years to come.

Tom Pearce has led the unit throughout, and congratulations go to Tom as well.

The title was secured with another dominant performance, bowling their opponents Verwood out for just 116 in 35.4 overs before chasing the target in 15.2 overs, after an early but inly slight wobble, for the loss of four wickets.

The bowling attack this season has been relentless, with youngsters in the wings waiting for their chances the squad have rem had to remain honest. This week it was Kevin Chidrawi who shone, taking 3 for 24, but like many of the weeks, the bowlers have shared the workload and the wickets.

Rob Pittman and Liam Vermuelen chipped in with 2 apiece as well. Not to mention 6 maidens, showing we made it hard to keep the scoreboard ticking.

In reply, very surprisingly based on recent form, both Max Cordle and Liam Vermuelen didn't cash in, but what a season the pair have had.

This week it was Lawrence Yeo (45) and Gabriel Williams (44) who put the chase firmly on track, with Will Musgrove and Connor Bain seeing the side home.

Every batter that has been asked a question has responded this season, scoring heavy team runs, alongside a strong bowling unit, and that has seen us to the title.

A thoroughly deserved championship after a superb campaign – and promotion to go with it.

3rd XI – Promotion push goes to the wire
South Wilts 61 for 0 (24pts) v Great Durnford 1st XI 59 all out (0pts) Won by 10 wickets

The young 3rd XI produced a devastating bowling performance, dismissing Great Durnford for just 59 in 19.1 overs.

With Great Durnford already relegated, fears of a mismatch before the game proved valid. The damage was led by Charlie Allom, another great addition to South Wilts who showed his great potential as he ripped through the batting with 5 for 11 from five overs.

George Nash has risen to the challenge of opening up the bowling and he added 2 for 18, whilst our young upcoming stars Asher Osborn, Jacob Rowe and Jacob Nash also took wickets.

South Wilts then needed only 5.2 overs to reach 61/0.

Freddie Jones and Joe Cranch smashed their way to 37 from 17 and 19 from 15 balls respectively, including 3 sixes and eight boundaries, to finish the job off super quickly as minds started to turn to the final Saturday showdown.

The result means the promotion battle goes right down to the wire. The 3s visit Breamore Dravidians 1st XI knowing if they can win, it would make a very special season for the 3rd XI too.

4th XI – Brilliant all-round performance
South Wilts 236 for 5 (23pts) v Shrewton 2nd XI 213 for 9 (9pts) Won by 23 runs

The 4th XI put together an excellent performance at Shrewton, posting an imposing 236/5 from 40 overs.

The innings was built around a magnificent 92 not out from Henry Smith, who marshalled the team from the top from start to finish.

He received excellent support from the ever-impressive Naimur Rahman with a fine 59, another find for South Wilts this season and proving to be a real asset with over 400 runs for the 4th XI in 10 innings.

Young Thomas Woodhouse Smith (21) is developing nicely into senior cricket, and the evergreen Jody Everett (22) was, unsurprisingly, not out again.

South Wilts then bowled Shrewton out for 213, winning by 23 runs.

The wickets were shared around, with Jody Everett, as good with the bat as he was with the ball, leading the way with 3/28, while Jake Redding claimed two wickets.

More senior cricket experience gained for Danish Nair picking up a wicket.

It was exactly the sort of all-round team performance, led for large parts of the season by another young South Wilts player Alex Evans, who has demonstrated great maturity as captain, which gives plenty of optimism for next season.

Most importantly, the 4th XI have secured their place in Division 5E for another season.