BURRIDGE suffered a second straight defeat and conceded top spot in the Southern Premier League to Havant after losing by 53 runs to Alton at the Jubilee Ground.

Julian Ballinger has been Alton’s talisman this season and the off-spinner celebrated his 44th birthday by taking 5-50 in 15.1 overs – his 20th ‘five-for’ in the SPL – as Burridge slumped to 165 all out in pursuit of the home side’s 218-7.

It was probably Alton’s most complete performance of the season – Scott Meyer’s men were positive from the moment Richard Ankers inserted them on a good batting surface.

Openers Dan Hutton and Abeed Janmohamed were watchful, but also looked to attack against the new ball as Alton moved steadily to 70 without loss.

They threatened to undo their good work when first Janmohamed fell to overseas player Geoff Dods and then Sullivan White, with some nagging away swing, had Hutton and Alex Hammond both caught behind by Will Steward. Suddenly, Alton were 71-3.

Michael Heffernan joined Scott Myers with both batsmen on nought and the home side needing to rebuild. Burridge maintained the pressure and the pair did well to make it to lunch as the run-rate slumped.

The duo stayed patient on the restart and eventually, as Burridge became frustrated, the scoreboard began to tick over. The partnership moved past 100 and Heffernan reached a gritty 50 off 101 balls before he was caught trying to up the rate with overs running out.

The stand of 108 had taken Alton to 179-4 and, five runs later, Myers also fell to Dan Stancliffe for 51 off 117 balls.

Oxford blue Robbie Heywood struck a handy 24 off 15 balls and Alton closed on a competitive 218-7 from 64 overs. Stancliffe took 4-63 and keeper Steward claimed four victims.

Alton knew they had to be on top of their game with the ball to beat Burridge who had lost only once this season. Ben Mortimer, returning to full fitness, had Joe Houlton caught by Ballinger at point and when the other Joe, Collings-Wells, edged Mortimer to Scott Myers at second slip, the visitors were 52-2. But Alton were leaking too many four balls and Burridge were well ahead of the run-rate.

Jack Myers’ leg-spin troubled the entrenched Dan Hewitt, but Alton struggled to find the next breakthrough.

After tea, Alton found a combination to stem the flow of runs and Ballinger and Scott Myers bowled lengthy spells as the Brewers began to chip away at the batting. Hewitt was well taken at slip by Hutton off Myers for 44 and the captain then removed the dangerous Dods for 34 off 32 balls, Janmohamed taking the catch standing up to the stumps.

And 114-4 became 125-5 as Myers picked up his third wicket, Ballinger taking the catch as Steward skied one to square-leg.

Then it was over to birthday boy Ballinger who, continuing his remarkable run of form, made it 15 wickets from three completed games as he cleaned up the middle order and tail.

First, there was a fantastic reflex catch by Mark Heffernan at short-leg to dismiss Guernsey batsman Ben Fitchet. Burridge continued to attack, but when skipper Ankers also fell to Ballinger, they were 131-7 and Alton were in the ascendancy.

Jamie Richards and Stancliffe moved the visitors past 150 as they adjusted their sights to the win-draw total of 188, but the veteran spinner struck again and, at 153-8, Alton moved in for the kill.

Richards battled away for 19 off 52 balls before being caught by Michael Heffernan.

Myers looked to his seamers to finish the job, but had to return to the ever dependable Ballinger who duly bowled number 11 Nick McMurray and Burridge were dismissed for 165 in the 49th over.

Alton entertain the young Hampshire Academy side this Saturday. On Sunday, Alton are home to Lymington in the quarter-finals of the T20 Cup (start 3pm). Victory would leave Alton just one further win from an appearance at the Ageas Bowl.