Bashley-Rydal's bid to launch an early season ECB Southern Electric Premier League leadership challenge floundered in the rain at title-holders Havant.

They lost by 15 runs to the reigning champions in a match reduced to 28 overs per side.

It was Havant's second consecutive win - they edged a two-wicket victory at Andover last week - and it underlines the strong belief that they are again going to be the side to beat this season.

When rain swept across Salisbury Plain, Bournemouth must have felt they were about to be dogged by the weather for a second week running.

Thwarted by a waterlogged Chapel Gate surface last week, they were frustrated for almost an hour at Bemerton, but, when the weather relented, they saw off South Wilts and won a rain-affected affair by eight wickets.

Bournemouth's stars were five-wicket left-armer Dave Kidner and young Australian Adam Voges, who hit a half-century on his Premier League debut.

Bashley, who won their corresponding 50-over visit to Havant last season, were on the back foot directly Andy Perry (19) creamed Ben Nolan-Stone's opening over for 13 runs.

Kevin Nash restored parity when he bowled Dominic Carson (1), but Havant were going well at 50-2 off just nine overs, with Nolan-Stone avenging his initial rough treatment from Perry.

Despite some effective bowling from Chris Sketchley and Andy Neal, Richard Hindley (32) and Luke Sears (48) consolidated Havant's position.

Bashley had to wait until the score reached 90 before a third breakthrough was achieved.

As Havant pressed for quick runs late in their truncated innings, Matt King (2-29) got two more wickets to restrict the champions to 139-6 off 28 overs.

"I honestly thought we needed a score of 150 but, despite spilling half a dozen catches, we bowled and ground-fielded well," said Havant skipper Paul Gover.

Neil Thurgood (25) and Andy Sexton (24) gave Bashley a comfortable start, but Havant bowled tightly enough to prevent the visitors getting into a position of strength.

With Sketchley (39) striking some useful blows, Bashley eased to 81-2, but were never able to dominate.

It was Hindley's five-over spell which won it for Havant - the all-rounder ripping out Bashley's entire middle-order, finishing with figures of 5-13 - which included a straight Sketchley six!

Hindley's bowling left Bashley 15 runs adrift at 124-8.