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Alton marked their return to the top level of Hampshire recreational cricket with a close-fought win against Havant in the ECB Southern Premier League – Mark Heffernan using his experience to get the Brewers across the line as they successfully chased down their hosts 148 all out.
It was a good all-round performance from the Brewers, who featured four newcomers, as they won by two wickets to start their comeback season in very positive fashion.
Alton’s Scott Myers won the toss and chose to bowl after the recent rainy weather, but the Havant Park pitch looked even paced if understandably more bowler friendly.
A patient start from Havant's two left handed openers Ben Walker and the evergreen Richard Hindley saw them progress to 30 without loss before South African seamer Bash Walters (2-46) - returning for his third stint in Alton colours - tempted Ben Walker to feather a catch through to Mark Heffernan behind the stumps.
Tom Andrews (2-30), making his debut on arrival from Binfield, then got in on the act as he removed Hindley in identical fashion before Myers took a smart slip catch to remove Harry Gadd off the same bowler.
Fellow debutant Tom Varney, late of Aldershot and more recently Totton & Eling, then took the important wicket of Chris Stone without scoring to leave Havant struggling on 58-4
George Metzger (47) looked assured for the home side and was the most free-scoring batter of the whole day as he moved Havant towards three figures, but he pulled a short ball down to teenager Sam Ruffell to restore Alton’s control.
Sonny Reynolds arrived at the crease and immediately struck the ball well, but Walters was recalled into the attack and removed him for a breezy 21.
Tom South (2-13) was introduced into the attack with his left-arm spin and bowled beautifully to pick up two quick wickets and fellow spinner and ex-Oakley and Sparsholt debutant Dan Sumner (2-10) took two in a controlled spell as Havant subsided to 148 all out.
Pressure
Alton responded positively with South and Dan Harris taking the attack to the Havant seamers, approaching a fifty stand to give the Brewers a solid base to work from
Both hit the ball cleanly, but the ball was still moving about off the pitch and Harris (15) was the first to go as a delivery from Richard Jerry nipped back.
Alton then lost another four wickets for 22 runs, leaving them 73-5 as seamers Reynolds (0-19) and Kai Zeimkendorf (3-26) put pressure on Alton’s batters.
Howard Gadsby and Mark Heffernan advanced Alton past the hundred mark by being patient against the seamers - despite a few play and misses - and working runs when available against the spinners. They brought the winning line into closer view, before Zimbabwean student Zeimkendorf dismissed Gadsby (22) with a leading edge to mid-off.
Andrews provided some support to Heffernan as they edged closer with a partnership of 25, before he was removed by Freddie Gadd, and when Sumner was dismissed without scoring it left Alton needing 11 with two wickets left.
Bash Walters used his experience and helped Heffernan, with a very calm and assured 37*, to see Alton over the line for a two wicket win.
It was a good all-round performance from the Brewers, who featured four newcomers, as they won by two wickets to start their comeback season in very positive fashion.
Alton’s Scott Myers won the toss and chose to bowl after the recent rainy weather, but the Havant Park pitch looked even paced if understandably more bowler friendly.
A patient start from Havant's two left handed openers Ben Walker and the evergreen Richard Hindley saw them progress to 30 without loss before South African seamer Bash Walters (2-46) - returning for his third stint in Alton colours - tempted Ben Walker to feather a catch through to Mark Heffernan behind the stumps.
Tom Andrews (2-30), making his debut on arrival from Binfield, then got in on the act as he removed Hindley in identical fashion before Myers took a smart slip catch to remove Harry Gadd off the same bowler.
Fellow debutant Tom Varney, late of Aldershot and more recently Totton & Eling, then took the important wicket of Chris Stone without scoring to leave Havant struggling on 58-4
George Metzger (47) looked assured for the home side and was the most free-scoring batter of the whole day as he moved Havant towards three figures, but he pulled a short ball down to teenager Sam Ruffell to restore Alton’s control.
Sonny Reynolds arrived at the crease and immediately struck the ball well, but Walters was recalled into the attack and removed him for a breezy 21.
Tom South (2-13) was introduced into the attack with his left-arm spin and bowled beautifully to pick up two quick wickets and fellow spinner and ex-Oakley and Sparsholt debutant Dan Sumner (2-10) took two in a controlled spell as Havant subsided to 148 all out.
Pressure
Alton responded positively with South and Dan Harris taking the attack to the Havant seamers, approaching a fifty stand to give the Brewers a solid base to work from
Both hit the ball cleanly, but the ball was still moving about off the pitch and Harris (15) was the first to go as a delivery from Richard Jerry nipped back.
Alton then lost another four wickets for 22 runs, leaving them 73-5 as seamers Reynolds (0-19) and Kai Zeimkendorf (3-26) put pressure on Alton’s batters.
Howard Gadsby and Mark Heffernan advanced Alton past the hundred mark by being patient against the seamers - despite a few play and misses - and working runs when available against the spinners. They brought the winning line into closer view, before Zimbabwean student Zeimkendorf dismissed Gadsby (22) with a leading edge to mid-off.
Andrews provided some support to Heffernan as they edged closer with a partnership of 25, before he was removed by Freddie Gadd, and when Sumner was dismissed without scoring it left Alton needing 11 with two wickets left.
Bash Walters used his experience and helped Heffernan, with a very calm and assured 37*, to see Alton over the line for a two wicket win.