ALTON recorded a timely first win of the season as the Southern Premier League completed its first phase of limited-overs matches.

Set a testing target of 246, Alton conducted an impressive run-chase at the Jubilee Ground, easing to victory in the 48th of their 50 overs, with five wickets intact.

Bashley skipper Michael Porter opted to bat, but Alex Hughes made expert use of some early movement and found the edge three times as the visitors slumped to 3-2 and then 25-3. Remarkably, Scott Myers took all three catches at second slip.

Runs were still coming freely, but when young seamer Daniel Scott had Tom Jacques caught behind for a swift 29, Bashley were 61-4.

A combination of missed chances and good batting saw Bashley recover, however, and the game turned Bashley’s way as Gavin Bailiff (93) and Chris Ridley (50) put on 113 for the fifth wicket.

Alton clawed back the run-rate, thanks to the accuracy of both Salmons, and then Ridley was trapped in front by Dan Hutton straight after reaching his 50. The powerful Bailiff was within seven runs of a century when he was caught in the deep by Hughes off Julian Ballinger. But the late order chipped in with valuable runs and Bashley posted a healthy 245-8.

Scott Myers, carrying an ankle injury, promoted himself to opener, trying to take advantage of the early field restrictions. And the move paid off as he and Hutton got Alton off to a flier with a superb stand of 125.

Both reached their half-centuries before Myers was bowled by Simon Watkins. Painful ankle or not, he had hit 67 off just 62 balls, including 11 boundaries.

Alex Hammond and Hutton added another 30, but both then fell at the same score – Hutton caught in the deep off Watkins for 63 – and at 155-3, with two new batsmen at the crease, Alton still had work to do.

Abeed Janmohamed and Michael Heffernan concentrated on getting themselves in and once they had seen off spinners Watkins and Sam Thomson, they looked to up the rate.

The pair had put on 55 vital runs when Heffernan was adjudged lbw to the returning Andy Neal for 33.

Mark Heffernan followed at 226, but keeper Janmohamed remained calm and was 39 not out when Michael Salmon brought the game to a sudden finish with a flurry of boundaries.

The Brewers travel to New Milton this week in the first of the ‘timed’ games.