ALTON fell to a second successive heavy defeat in the Southern Premier League, while Burridge, so nearly relegated from the Premier Division last season, notched up back-to-back victories.

Burridge won the toss in good batting conditions and the visitors were made to toil in the field as Dan Hewitt and Will Steward put on 64 for the first wicket.

Alex Hughes, on his return to first-team action, was unlucky with some half-chances and it was Toby Salmon who finally broke the stand.

Scott Myers bowled Joe Collings-Wells and when Salmon trapped Hewitt in front for 57, things looked a little brighter at 117-3.

However, a missed chance off overseas all-rounder Geoff Dods proved fatal and he and former Hampshire player Lee Savident put Alton to the sword with a partnership of 94.

Savident, the main aggressor, eventually went for 61, caught and bowled by Dan Hutton, giving him his first league wicket for the club, but Burridge were in total control at 211-4 with plenty of overs left.

Julian Ballinger removed Dods for a determined 56 and some lusty blows over the short boundary from Richard Ankers and Dan Stancliffe saw the home side to a formidable 291-9 from their 50 overs.

The Brewers needed a positive start, but Nick McMurray blew the top order away with a hostile new-ball spell. Alton stumbled to 39-4, with three batsmen caught behind by Steward and McMurray finishing his ten overs with 3-15.

Skipper Scott Myers was then joined by Mark Heffernan and the pair looked to rebuild the innings. They restored Alton’s pride with a stand of 101, but the growing run-rate meant that a win was never on the cards.

With the score at 140, Myers finally played on to Stancliffe for a fine 55 and Heffernan went soon afterwards for 46.

With only bonus points to play for, Abeed Janmohamed steered his side to 177-7.

The Brewers need to improve in all departments when they travel to the Ageas Bowl to meet Hampshire Academy this weekend.