Burridge beat Brewers to claim T20 crown

Having secured their Premier League status for another season, Alton went into the final in positive mood, but started as underdogs against Burridge who had claimed their first SPCL title the week before.

Alton won the toss at South Wilts sports club - with the venue being moved from the Ageas Bowl this season over the fee required to host the event - and chose to bowl in order to chase as score as they had done successfully on several occasions in the tournament to date.

Zack Gadsby's first over was met by the top league run scorer in South African Matthew Goles, who proceeded to hit a superb six over extra cover from the third ball of the day and get Burridge off to a lightening start.

Off spinner Dan Sumner got the breakthrough for Alton as he removed Inayat Ullah which bought another South African, Nathan Schoultz to the crease with his compatriot. The pair proceeded to score at ten runs an over before the dangerous Goles was removed by a smart piece of fielding for 34 from just 25 balls.

Schoultz looked initially to turn over the strike, before he unleashed a boundary strewn blitz and continued to score at a superb rate. His knock included reverse sweeps for six and a monstrous slog sweep into the adjacent hockey pitch which took Burridge to 121-2 from just 13 overs.

However, just as they looked to be piling on an irresistible target, Alton managed to pick up a cluster or wickets. First skipper Scott Myers removed Chris Blake for 13 before Gadsby returned to claim three quick wickets and finish his four overs 3 for 21.

Dan Scott picked up 2-21 in a tidy spell, while Tom Varney bowled will without reward.

With the cluster of wickets in the latter part of the Burridge innings, they closed on 165 for 7, well short of what they were threatening, but probably just above par for the course.

Alton's innings started in circumspect fashion, with Burridge's dangerous seam attack bowling in good areas. Dan Harris, carrying an ankle injury from the previous week, looked to dominate, but turning over the strike proved difficult.

Sam Ruffel (10) and Michael Heffernan (11) both made starts, but couldn't advance the rate, and when Harris fell for 27 (off 25) Alton were 56-3.

Mark Heffernan and Scott Myers continued to chip away, but Alton always felt an over or two behind the rate, before Heffernan (10) and Freddie Eggleston (7) were removed leaving the Brewers 107-5 and needing a miracle.

Left-hander Joe Paul joined skipper Myers and wasted no time in giving Alton a lifeline. He nudged a few runs to get his innings going before unleashing in the penultimate over, with Alton still requiring an unlikely 45 runs to win. Paul hit three sixes and a boundary four, collecting 25 from the over and giving them a glimmer of hope needing 20 from the last.

However, experienced seamer Dan Stancliffe (2-16) returned to complete a fabulous spell and close out the match in the last over with the wicket of Myers (27) and leave Alton 17 short.

Burridge's seamers did the same job that they had all season, with Brad Griffiths (3-21 from 3), Ollie Creal (0-15 from 3) and Francis Moore (0-25 from 4) being economical, with support from the off spin of Goles (0-9 from 2).

Hampshire's Ross Whiteley awarded the trophy to Burridge, who celebrated their deserved league and cup double, while Alton were left to wonder what might have been on their long journey home from Salisbury - but with the consolation of premier league cricket again next season.