Alton’s second team eventually got their season up and running with a comprehensive seven-wicket win against fellow strugglers Purbrook in Division One of the Hampshire Cricket League.

Despite coming into the match against Purbrook with no wins for the season, Alton were confident against an opposition also struggling near the bottom of the table.

Having lost the toss, Alton were asked to bowl on a good pitch at Jubilee. Despite some mixed bowling by Dan Scott (two for 36) and Arul Appavoo (three for 23), the openers never really got going and some key wickets pegged Purbrook back further. Gemma Porter (three for 32) applied the squeeze in the middle overs and Purbrook collapsed to 188 all out, with Appavoo returning to clean up the tail.

The chase looked solid from the start, led superbly by skipper Andrew Postles with a match-defining 107. He was ably supported by 15-year-old Ethan Van Der Linde (14) and Ben Rolfs (39) as Alton ran out comfortable winners with plenty of overs left.

Alton’s third team made it seven wins from seven, as they beat St Mary’s by 68 runs in Division Five North East of the Hampshire Cricket League despite an early wobble.

Alton were asked to bat first and with a much-changed top order things did not go to plan early on. Alton slumped to 57 for six and then 82 for seven before skipper Ian Mason and Ian Carpenter came together to add 98 for the eighth wicket.

Mason made a vital 72 off 67 balls including 11 fours and one six. Carpenter made 42 not out off 59 balls and Tom Paul struck a quickfire 20 not out off nine balls to propel Alton to 210 for eight at the close.

The St Mary’s chase never really got going. Alton’s young left-armer Toby Taylor bowled a wonderful spell, taking three for five off his opening six overs as the home side crashed to 24 for four. Luke Crook and Paul took two wickets each as St Mary’s were bowled out for 142.

Number ten Charl Swiegers did frustrate the Brewers a little, but his 40 not out did not stop the visitors taking maximum points.

Alton’s fourth team were one wicket short of pulling off an impressive victory against Frensham’s fourth team in Division Five of the I’Anson League, but they had to settle instead for the winning draw.

Electing to bat first, the home side made steady progress. Viswas Iyer (26) and Rohan Wills (39) were initially supported by opener Jorja Wright (19), before the middle order of Abi Green (20), Rob Crook (18) and Brian Gillingham (14 not out) made sure the Brewers secured the third batting point and set an above-par score of 180 for eight.

Jon Porter and Green made early inroads, sending Frensham’s top three of skipper Richard Doran, Archie Warren and Andrew Robertson back to the pavilion. Joshua Jones made an impressive debut and Wright kept it tight, but it was the second spell of Porter (three for 22) and Green (four for 36) that tore through the middle order. Zac Rhodes picked up a couple of key wickets, including the impressive Toby De Mierre, and Gillingham showed off his impressive glovework with a stumping and one-handed catch.

Ultimately, though, the decision to bat to 41 overs and secure the extra batting point may have cost the Brewers as the visitors were able to hold on for the draw, despite a close run-out call on the final ball.