ALTON ended years of hurt by beating Havant, the defending champions, on the opening day of the Southern Premier League season – albeit in a nerve-shredding finish at Havant Park.

Scott Myers played a captain’s innings for his side and won the match off the last ball to finish 74 not out.

and was Alton had not won their first fixture since being promoted to the Premier League 12 years ago and they had come up against the powerful Havant side on seven of those attempts.

Hoping that the new 50-overs competition, with white ball and coloured clothing, might signal a change of fortune, Alton knew they had to start well after Havant captain Ben Walker elected to bat on a bald-looking pitch.

New overseas seamer Sean Jamison soon had Rob Gibson caught behind, but it was Ben Mortimer who did the serious damage and a superb spell by the tall quickie put the champions in serious trouble trouble at 57-5.

His four victims included Walker, Alton’s nemesis last year with two hundred. He had made only one when a short ball from Mortimer rushed him into ballooning a catch to Julian Ballinger.

Hampshire’s Brad Taylor, formerly of Holybourne CC, had made 28 out of Havant’s 35 runs when Mortimer had him taken by Scot Myers at second slip.

Andy Gorvin and Stuart Ransley gradually rebuilt the innings and their partnership moved past 50 before off-spinner Ballinger bowled Gorvin for a patient 43.

Ransley and the experienced Richard Hindley continued to accumulate runs until Ransley, having been dropped twice off consecutive balls from Ballinger, was caught off Jack Myers in the next over for 49.

Chris Morgan hit some lusty blows and Hindley was 37 not out when Havant closed their 50 overs on 214-8 after an excellent recovery.

It was a competitive total on a pitch that was difficult to score on, but Alton’s start was hardly circumspect as Alex Hammond decided to get his side off to a flying start and struck six boundaries in a 25-ball 32 before being caught behind off Josh McCoy.

In the context of the game, Alton were off to a flyer at 46-1 from seven overs. Abeed Janmohamed fell soon after, but Dan Harris, another newcomer, reined in his natural aggression and shared a vital partnership with skipper Scott Myers.

The pair eased the score past 100 before Harris, attempting to up the run-rate, holed out off Hindley who, almost immediately, removed Michael Heffernan and Alton were wobbling at 112-4.

However, Myers was joined by Mark Heffernan in another crucial stand, adding 63 before Hindley took his third wicket. Alton 173-5, with work still to be done.

Needing a run-a-ball for the last six overs, Myers and Jamison edged closer to victory and Alton looked well in control as they went into the last over requiring just three runs with five wickets in hand.

But there was plenty of drama to come.

Off Walker’s second ball, Jamison found the one man in the deep and Hindley took a fantastic catch. Myers managed a single off the third delivery, so it was now two off three with Mortimer on strike.

He made a clean contact, only for Gorvin to throw down the stumps. Myers was now back on strike with his younger brother at the other end and two runs needed off two balls.

Walker bowled a dot ball and it seemed that Alton were snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

But the captain was not going to let it slip away. Walker bowled the final ball full outside off-stump and Scott Myers drove it through point for four to finish 74 not out.

A superb game of cricket, played in a great spirit, and the result should do wonders for Alton’s confidence as they prepare for Saturday’s home match against Lymington (start 1pm).

Alton II, back in the SPL Division Three, were put to the sword by young Harry Gadd whose fast 122 propelled Havant II to 280-6 at the Jubilee Ground. Alton were out of contention at 95-6 and stumbled to 152 all out.