AFTER a fruitless trip to Lymington the day before, Alton had better luck on Sunday when they beat Andover in a low-scoring, but pulsating affair to reach the last eight of the British Gas T20 Cup.

The Brewers, facing a tough test against the side currently third in Division One, fielded a side containing no less than four sets of brothers.

Amidst the usual panoply of T20 coloured kit and loud music, Alton skipper Jack Myers chose to bat first.

Scoring was difficult on a sluggish Jubilee track and Alton lost Scott Myers early on as he tried to force the pace. Dan Hutton and Michael Heffernan added 50 for the second wicket before Hutton, the aggressor, was caught for 39.

The Heffernans put on 29 before Dan Foy removed Michael for 26 and followed up with two more wickets to leave Alton in danger of unravelling at 91-5.

But Michael Salmon’s late cameo of 28 off 19 balls helped the Brewers to a competitive 133-9 in their 20 overs.

Andover looked to get above the asking rate from the off and Josh Ballantine-Dykes cleared the ropes in the first over. Michael Heffernan’s throw from the boundary caught the experienced Glyn Treagus short of his ground, but Ballantine-Dykes hit 32 off 26 balls, including six boundaries, before Scott Myers had him caught by brother Jack.

At that stage, Andover were 41-3 and well ahead of the rate, and they continued to attack.

Alton held their nerve, though. Wickets began to fall and when Matt Hooper went for 23, the visitors were 96-6.

With plenty of overs still remaining, Alton took the pace of the ball to good effect and off-spinners Tom Paul and Lee Partner continued to chip away at the batting.

Andover finally required 14 off the last over, to be bowled by Partner, with one wicket standing. Michael Heffernan caught Mike Adams at long-off off the spinner’s second ball and the Brewers had won by 12 runs.

Partner took 3-12 off 3.2 overs and Tom?Paul 3-19 off his four, showing just how effective spin can be in this form of the game.

* Only 17 overs were bowled at Lymington in the league match before the rain arrived. Alton, put in to bat, had limped to 27-2, with Matt Metcalfe taking both wickets in a mean spell of 2-11 in nine overs.