Brewers Topple Early leaders

Michael Salmon returned to first team action in place of the absent Toby Salmon as Michael Heffernan came back into the middle order. Alton also handed a debut to Huw Wheeler, the former Hampshire academy prospect making his first appearance for the Brewers.

With the overnight rain Captain Myers won the toss and took the opportunity to bowl first. Despite the rain the surface was hard and true so Alton knew they would need to bowl well. Walters and Appavoo took the new ball and got Alton off to the perfect start, Walters found the edge of Verma as Harris took a good low catch to his right at first slip. 2 for 1 was soon 8 for 2, Appavoo this time finding the edge of Snell’s bat Walters with a sharp catch at third slip. This brought together Ventnor’s in form players Martin Blackman and Sri Lankan Dineth Thimodya, both with league hundreds already to their name set about repairing the early damage.

The pair moved the visitors past 50 before Michael Salmon had Blackman caught at slip for 17. Salmon finding the edge, the ball looped up off Mark Heffernan’s gloves where Myers made no mistake to reduce Ventnor to 52 for 3. Salmon continued to probe away using his full array of deliveries before a beauty to Attrill clipped the top of off stump as Ventnor slipped to 70 for 4. Attrill made 7 but Thimodya remained unbeaten on 34. Salmon taking 2 for 37 off his 10. A 51 run partnership between Thimodya and Whyte brought the visitors back into the game as Thimodya made a composed half century. Whyte looked to be aggressive but when he was trapped in front to give captain Myers his first wicket for 31 Ventnor were 121 for 5.

Alton were happy to give Thimodya one and bowl at the other end. The run rate was kept in check as Sam Mills and Thimodya added 50 for the 6th wicket. Ventnor moved the score to 171 before the returning Appavoo picked up Mills for 23 and Woodhouse without scoring both trapped in front. Myers then got his second as the visitors slumped to 174 for 8. Appavoo taking 3 for 28 off his 10 overs. Thimodya remained on 78 but with overs and partners running out Ventnor’s key man needed to increase the rate. With his own milestone in sight Thimodya went on the attack, a flurry of late boundaries dented Myers figures as he ended with 2 for 50. Thimodya moved the visitors past 200 before with just 2 balls remaining he completed a fine innings making 100 off 110 balls Including 5 fours and 5 sixes. Despite batting for almost the whole innings in what was a fantastic composed innings Alton were happy that they had restricted the number of deliveries the Sri Lankan had faced.

Ventnor posted a respectable 210 but on a surface that looked good for batting and with the outfield drying out Alton knew if they batted well it was definitely an achievable target.

Gonella and Harris went about giving Alton a good start, Gonella took a back seat as he watched Harris go on the attack. Harris latched onto anything over pitched as he dispatched Snell and Wells to the fence, the former having to be removed from the attack due to injury. A brief respite for the bowlers came in the shape of a shower and unfortunately for Gonella the very first ball after the rain break he was strangled down the leg side skipper Woodhouse completing the catch, Mew the bowler as Alton were 44 for 1, Gonella out for 8. The loss of a wicket did not change Harris’s gameplan as his onslaught continued. Harris reached his 50 inside the 11th over reaching the milestone off just 29 balls including 11 fours. Huw Wheeler on debut settled into his business well as the pair added 50 for the 2nd wicket. Alton moved to three figures in the 16th over before Wheeler then mistimed a short ball as he was caught for 22. Aton still in control at 105 for 2.

Harris continued to take the attack to the visitors but with his hundred in sight he tried to pull a short ball from the off spin of Thimodya only to get through the shot as the ball hit his stumps bringing an end to what was a wonderful exhibition of timing and boundary hitting from the Brewers opener. Harris struck 15 fours in his 60 ball stay as he made fantastic 80, putting Alton in a strong position at 135 for 3. With so many overs remaining Alton did not really need to take any risks, Michael Heffernan joined captain Myers. The pair ensured Alton did not fluff their lines as they added the required 76 in quick time Myers completing his first league half century of the season ending on 59 not out off 61 balls including 9 fours. Heffernan struck the winning runs as he ended on 28 not out off 25 balls as Alton romped home with 17 overs to spare to win by 7 wickets.

Alton travel to New Milton on Saturday looking for some consistency that has eluded them so far this season.