Indoor six-a-side cricket at Hampshire's Rose Bowl academy has received a massive thumbs up by some of the area's top Southern Electric Premier League players.

Title holders BAT Sports along with Havant voted the facilities a big hit after playing the inaugural 12-overs per side game there.

Dave Banks (27), Simon Preston (27) and Dave Adams (27) all retired as BAT totalled 137-1 before dismissing Havant for 104, with Andy Perry (29) and Richard Hindley (28) top scoring.

"It's a terrific venue for indoor cricket," enthused BAT skipper David Banks. "The pitch is fast and should prove hugely beneficial for players wanting to improve their game, particularly in the bowling and fielding departments."

The first organised indoor competition starts at The Rose Bowl on January 6, with the launch of a nine-club Hamp-shire Under-16 League on Sunday evenings.

The Hampshire Cricket Board is exploring the possibility of playing next April's county finals at The Rose Bowl and will shortly be discussing plans to start a regional league competition there next autumn, possibly in midweek.

Hampshire indoor champions Winchester KS have been drawn at home in the second round of the 2002 ECB Indoor Club Championships.

They will face the yet-to-be-decided Somerset champions at Fleming Park on either February 17 or 24.