BAT SPORTS are back on the road to Lord's after retaining their Hampshire indoor cricket championship title at the Rose Bowl.

They beat Hook & Newnham Basics and then Havant - by three wickets in the final - to ensure qualification for the 2006 ECB competition, in which they were beaten finalists last month.

BAT dipped to 78-4 (Brian Goodman 3-30) against Hook & Newnham before Ricky Rawlins (48) and Dave Adams (24) pulled things round. Vince Gardner (30) and Robin Walsh-Smith (23) gave Hook's eventual 100-5 an air of respectability.

Havant pipped one-time national title holders Winchester KS by losing fewer wickets in a tied match. Simon Barnard (26), Richard Hindley (22), Simon James (22) and Andy Perry (20) took them Havant's 111-4. Then WKS made 111 all out. Jimmy Taylor (30) was their biggest threat.

BAT Sports won by three wickets with five balls left in the final after Andy Perry (36) and Hindley (30) helped post 116-5. The reigning champions were always on course with Richard Kenway (27) top scoring.

BAT include five new players for tomorrow's ECB Cockspur Cup first round tie against Bournemouth at Southern Gardens, 1pm.

Former Calmore Sports all-rounder James Hibberd and OTs & Romsey seam bowler Jeremy Ord are joined by Southampton University trio Chris Edwards, Rob Franklin and leg-spinner Pat Turk.

BAT Sports: Banks (Capt), Shirazi, Kenway, R Rawlins, Edwards, Hibberd, Franklin, Ord, Bungay, Turk, Goldstraw.