ALTON, pushing for a top-half finish in the Southern Premier League, posted a competitive total in this final away fixture of the season, but were undone by an individual performance deserving of victory.

Former England U19 captain and Hampshire player Joe Weatherley scored a fantastic 128 for St Cross at the Green Jackets ground to frustrate the visitors and ease his side’s relegation fears.

Put in on a good surface, Alton lost skipper Scott Myers for a duck, but Dan Hutton and the returning Rob Heywood built a platform with a stand of 78.

The Brewers then went from 80-1 to 119-4, but once again the Heffernan brothers came good and their partnership of 84 moved the score past 200.

Michael was first to 50 before being caught in the deep as he tried to up the run-rate. Ben Mortimer was caught on the fence trying to clear the ropes first ball, but Mark Heffernan attacked to great effect, hitting three sixes and six fours to reach 68 off just 57 balls before being caught off the final ball of the innings.

Alton, needing to bowl well, got the start they wanted when Richard Anthony took a spectacular overhead catch to dismiss St Cross skipper Tom Foyle off Scott Myers.

But Weatherley and Louis Kimber made steady progress and saw the shine off the new ball while adding 113 for the second wicket.

Kimberly contributed a solid 27 before being caught behind off Toby Salmon and the Winchester side slipped to 138-4 as Adam Rouse, trying to reverse-sweep Hutton, only helped the ball round to keeper Mark Heffernan, who somehow held it, and then young Salmon clean-bowled Greg Hollins.

All the time Weatherley was there, the home side remained favourites and Alton were powerless as the 19-year-old cruised to his 100.

He and Jack Bransgrove then took the game away from Alton with some hard hitting against poor bowling and when Julian Ballinger finally removed Weatherley for 128 off 136 balls, St Cross needed just 26 for victory.

Bransgrove plundered a run-a-ball 45 not out and saw his side home with four overs to spare.

Alton host Lymington in their final league game of the season this Saturday.