ALTON failed to follow up their landmark win against Havant, the Southern Premier League champions, the week before and crashed to a massive 233-run defeat at home to Lymington on Saturday.

The confident Brewers were hoping for more of the same at Jubilee, but were blown away by the New Forest side in a hugely one-sided affair.

Lymington skipper Simon Beetham’s decision to bat first paid rich dividends. Alton had hoped for some early movement, but it quickly became apparent that it was a fantastic batting surface.

Things did not go Alton’s way. Ben Mortimer, fresh from a four-wicket haul in the Havant game, pulled up with a hamstring problem after going for 42 in four overs and Sean Jamison, after some good early overs, also took serious stick as Terry Crabb, who has played first-class cricket in his native New Zealand, took the attack to the bowlers, punishing anything off line.

A few half-chances came and went, but left-hander Crabb and the steady Ryan Scott took their opening partnership to 142 before Jack Myers bowled Scott for 50.

Crabb continued to plunder the bowling, completing a superb century, and with the score approaching 200 with plenty of overs remaining and eight wickets intact, Alton were staring down the barrel.

At 192, Crabb was joined by young Hampshire player Calvin Dickinson who, after almost being caught off his first ball, hit the next for six and then raced to 71 off 40 balls.

Alton’s agony continued as they dropped both batsmen during a stand of 123, and when Crabb was eventually caught by Michael Heffernan in the deep off Alex Hughes, he had made an outstanding 156 off 121 balls, including 18 fours and three sixes.

At 342-3, Dickinson fell leg before to Julian Ballinger, but Ed Ellis rubbed salt into the wounds with 35 not out and Lymington posted a remarkable 381-5 in their 50 overs. Only Ballinger, the off-spinner, had partially stemmed the flow of runs, taking 1-48 off his 10 overs.

Just to get reasonably close would have been an achievement for a shell-shocked Alton. They tried to be positive and number 3 Dan Harris gave Lymington a taste of their own medicine, but when skipper Scott Myers, last week’s hero, fell to Beetham for 11, Alton were 75-3.

Harris reached his first 50 for the club, but then holed out to Guy Layman for 64 off 60 balls.

At 103-4, Alton lowered their sights to survival and possible bonus points. But the batting lacked stability and they were soon reeling at 106-7 as Lymington switched their bowlers to great effect. Mortimer hit a defiant 25 not out before the Brewers were dismissed for 148, with 16 overs going to waste.

Alton will look to put this result behind them as they prepare to host the strong South Wilts side this Saturday.