Alton gave their finest performance for a few seasons to see off second-placed St Cross Symondians on Saturday and go top of Division Three.

They banished the disappointment of last week's defeat and outplayed Symondians in every department.

Alton were asked to bat on what looked to be a very good wicket at the Royal Green Jackets Ground in Winchester.

Building partnerships has been a feature of their batting this season and Saturday was no exception. All the batsmen worked well together and six decent partnerships were formed, with Michael Heffernan the fulcrum of the innings with 82.

A maiden century continues to elude Heffernan, but his class was again evident as he picked off ten fours and a six on this big ground.

Julian Ballinger, in particular, gave good support, while Bruce Oliphant provided the final flourish with 51 not out.

The visitors were severe on the home side's rather sloppy outcricket and cruised along at more than five runs an over.

A final blast of 51 runs off the last seven sent the total rocketing to 252-5 in the 50 overs, with Oliphant using his considerable reach to drive two straight sixes.

Five runs an over was always going to be a tough task, with the Alton bowlers again in prime form.

Only New Zealander Mark Parker made much impression with the bat for St Cross. Steve Shaw joined him in a second-wicket stand of 84, but the home side, 106-2 in the 29th over, never broke the shackles of the accurate Alton attack.

All the Alton bowlers performed admirably, but it was Howard Gadsby and Oliphant who cleaned up as frustration got the better of the St Cross batsmen. They were all out for 196 in the 48th over.

This was a fully deserved victory for Alton who leapfrog to the top of the league and hope to consolidate when they entertain Leckford this Saturday.

alton

M P Heffernan c Charman b Padwick 82

R Morgan b Charman 18

G Chalkley c Shaw b Edwards 10

P Heffernan b Perry-Lewis 9

J Ballinger c Perry-Lewis b Charman 38

B Oliphant not out 51

G Billington not out 12

Extras 32

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Total (for 5 wkts) 252

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Bowling: S Charman 2-48, C Edwards 1-57, M Perry-Lewis 1-54, M Padwick 1-22

st cross

M Parker c M J Heffernan b Gadsby 56

M Rees c M J Heffernan b Halfacre 13

S Shaw b Ballinger 23

G Barrett c P Heffernan b Gadsby 7

B Adams run out 8

M Padwick Ibw Oliphant 5

W Mariner c Tapp b Gadsby 23

M P-Lewis st MJ Heffernan b Oliphant 9

S Charman c P Heffernan b Gadsby 4

J Boniface not out 7

C Edwards b Oliphant 18

Extras 23

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Total 196

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Bowling: J Halfacre 1-36, J Ballinger 1-43, H Gadsby 4-46, B Oliphant 3-22.