BAT failed by five runs in their bid to reach the national phase of the ECB Cockspur Cup at Havant yesterday - despite a gallant effort by their captain David Banks.

The regional final between the two Southern Electric Premier League juggernauts went to a tense photo-finish with Havant just clinging on after posting a handy 220-8 off 45 overs.

Boosted by a 56-run start, BAT gave chase all the way, with Banks hitting 84 - only to finish a narrow loser.

BAT fielded only five of their normal Premier League side but had Havant on the back foot for large chunks of the afternoon session.

Teenager Ricky Rawlins (2-43) had Havant wobbling at 36-3 before debutant Will Prozesky (39) and Simon Barnard (21) began to turn things around.

But BAT refused to let go, reducing their arch-rivals to 128-6 off 33 overs as the contest swung back and forth.

Havant, though, are old masters in the cup arena and broke the shackles, with seventh-wicket pair Simon James (54) and Richard Pineo (47) adding 66 in quick time.

After a double breakthrough by the occasional off-spin of Sam Walker (2-49), Havant broke loose, Pineo launching the blitz that led to 92 runs being scored off the last 11 overs.

A total of 220-8 looked to be out of weakened BAT's reach but, if that was the case, no one told Richard Kenway (35) and Rawlins (28), who put BAT back into the contest with a 56-run start.

Although they dropped to 74-3 and were slowed considerably by the nagging accuracy of Richard Hindley (2-22), BAT battled on.

Banks was in supreme form, taking BAT on to 149-4 - and to a target of 72 runs off the last ten overs.

Banks, whose 84 included ten boundaries, lost several partners along the way but remained at the crease as the Premier League champions moved towards the 200 mark.

Requiring 33 runs to win off the last three overs, BAT lost Banks at 204-8, nine balls from the end.

Tailenders Nick Jenkin and Walker were left needing 14 off the last over and, after Walker had been run out by a magnificent throw from the boundary by Hindley, six off Phil Loat's last ball.

Last man Ben Tait went for the big hit but was bowled by a relieved Loat, whose wicket clinched a last 16 slot for Havant, who entertain either Finchley or Hampstead in the sixth round.

l Former Hampshire Under-19 captain Steve Snell was due to sign professional forms for Gloucestershire today - and make his debut behind the stumps in a Second XI Trophy tie against his old county at The Rose Bowl.

Snell, 21, has been on the MCC groundstaff at Lord's for the past three summers and was Young Cricketers' head boy this season.

Jack Russell's recent retirement and the elevation of Second XI keeper Stephen Adshead to Gloucestershire's first team has created the opening for Isle of Wight-based Snell.

"It's the chance I've been waiting for and I'll be giving it my best shot for the remainder of the season," said the former Ventnor and Havant wicketkeeper.

Snell has been playing for Brighton-based Preston Nomads in the ECB Sussex Premier League this season but made a one-off appearance for Havant yesterday's Cockspur Cup win over BAT.