AN inspired Bashley (Rydal) side sealed top place in the Southern Premier League time pennant table with an emphatic victory over Alton.

The Brewers, keen to put the double disappointment of league and T20 defeats behind them, fought back after a poor start to post a decent total, but Bashley’s powerful top five made the run-chase look easy.

With skipper Scott Myers turning out for the 2nd XI, brother Jack took the reins and elected to bat first on a good-looking surface in New Milton.

Jake Lilley yorked Abeed Janmohamed with the score on 11, but Dan Hutton and Alex Hammond looked comfortable against the new ball. Hutton struck six boundaries before trying to pull a ball from Gavin Bailiff that kept low and keeper Chris Ridley somehow held on.

Hutton gone for 34 and Alton 49-2.

They were soon 67-3 as Gavin Bailiff bowled Richard Anthony and when Hammond, looking in good touch, dragged another lowish ball onto his stumps, Alton were in trouble at 73-4.

For the second week running, the Heffernan brothers got their side out of gaol with a century partnership. The pair made it through to lunch and continued their good work on the restart.

The stand was worth 110 and Michael had reached his third half-century in as many weeks when younger sibling Mark played on against spinner Josh Digby and departed for a disciplined 38.

The 200 came up before Michael Heffernan, trying to force the pace in the late overs, was caught for 80, having faced 135 balls and hit nine fours.

Another set of brothers, the Salmons, finished with a flurry of boundaries, Michael launching two sixes, and Alton declared on 229-9 in the 64th over.

Openers Tom Gates and Simon Ridley made rapid progress against Ben Mortimer and Michael Salmon in the short session before tea as Bashley set their sights on the victory that would make them ‘time’ champions.

Alton struggled to check the run-rate. Leg-spinner Myers bowled well without any luck and it was young Toby Salmon who made the breakthrough, having Gates caught behind for 47.

Bashley were 83-1 at that stage and fortune continued to favour them as Ridley and Chris Vaughan added a further 59. Then Ridley took one risk too many and skied off-spinner Hutton to Julian Ballinger at mid-off.

Skipper Michael Porter immediately survived a massive appeal, while Ridley saw up his 50 before he was caught off the spin of Ballinger.

At 156-3, the home team were well in control and Bailiff took the game away from the visitors with an aggressive 42 not out off 32 balls, including nine boundaries. Porter remained unbeaten on 36 and Bashley cruised to a seven-wicket victory in the 54th over.

The league returns to limited overs this Saturday and Alton will look to get their season back on track at home to lowly New Milton.