Ben Walker led from the front with a Premier Division best 125 as Havant began their challenge in a positive mood with an 86-run victory over Alton at the Jubilee Ground.
His hundred was only his fourth in top flight SPL cricket, but underpinned a match winning 288-7 by Havant, who are anxious to emerge from South Wilts’ shadow.
For the past three seasons they’ve been runners-up and have not won the title since 2011.
Walker’s century wasn’t made in the easiest of circumstances, Havant having dipped to 79-3 before the left-hander wrestled any initiative Alton had with a half-century stand with Chris Stone (35).
But it was Walker’s all left-hand partnership with Richard Hindley, which yielded 136 for the fifth wicket, which effectively batted the Brewers out of the game.
Walker punched 14 boundaries before Julian Ballinger (3-63) had him caught.
Hindley went on to make 50 not out just as Havant closed at 288-7.
Alton were on the back foot from 66-4 onwards but rallied through the Heffernan brothers, Mark (54) and Michael (36) before Abeed Janmohamed’s unbeaten 30 gave them an extra batting point at 202 all out.
Young Australian Tom Vanderslik (3-28) sent Alton’s last three wickets down for 12 runs to give Havant a maximum-point haul.
His hundred was only his fourth in top flight SPL cricket, but underpinned a match winning 288-7 by Havant, who are anxious to emerge from South Wilts’ shadow.
For the past three seasons they’ve been runners-up and have not won the title since 2011.
Walker’s century wasn’t made in the easiest of circumstances, Havant having dipped to 79-3 before the left-hander wrestled any initiative Alton had with a half-century stand with Chris Stone (35).
But it was Walker’s all left-hand partnership with Richard Hindley, which yielded 136 for the fifth wicket, which effectively batted the Brewers out of the game.
Walker punched 14 boundaries before Julian Ballinger (3-63) had him caught.
Hindley went on to make 50 not out just as Havant closed at 288-7.
Alton were on the back foot from 66-4 onwards but rallied through the Heffernan brothers, Mark (54) and Michael (36) before Abeed Janmohamed’s unbeaten 30 gave them an extra batting point at 202 all out.
Young Australian Tom Vanderslik (3-28) sent Alton’s last three wickets down for 12 runs to give Havant a maximum-point haul.