Brewers chase falls flat

It was again a case of what could have been for the Brewers as results elsewhere in the league went their way but it was Sarisbury who took advantage and now sit top of Division one.
On a hot sunny day at Jubilee Alton were asked to bowl first. Sarisbury were watchful early on but settled quickly and punished any lose deliveries as they added 50 runs inside the 11th over. With Walters and Appavoo unable to make the breakthrough skipper Myers brought himself into the attack. Tom Mills then gifted Alton their first wicket as he chipped the ball to midwicket Gonella completed the catch as the Sarisbury opener perished for 24, Myers claiming the wicket. The visitors were well placed though at 68 for 1.
Rawlins remained and was looking dangerous but when Myers had Floyd caught for 3 Sarisbury were 80 for 2. Rawlins continued to score at a good rate as he passed 50 off 63 balls with 7 fours. Cameron Grierson was the next to fall, the introduction of the spin of Egleston causing the Sarisbury batter to miscue to Harris at mid-wicket as he was dismissed for 24. Rawlins then fell almost immediately after for 63. The accurate left arm spin of Tom South was difficult to get away, Rawlins looking to cut South away could only edge the ball to first slip where Myers took a sharp catch as Sarisbury fell to 127 for 4.
This brought inform and hard hitting Feltham to the crease, but it was Alton who struck next, Egleston picking up another wicket as he removed Lovett for 3 again mis cueing to Harris at midwicket. Sarisbury now 152 for 5. South completed a fine spell of 10 overs 1 for 27 but the Sarisbury long batting line up paid dividends as skipper Josh Hill and Feltham added 61 in quick time. Feltham moved to 50 off just 36 balls and when Hill was removed by the returning Walters Sarisbury had moved to 213.
Feltham continued to attack but his defences were beaten as he attempted to slog sweep Egleston. The Alton spinner picking up his third as Feltham was bowled for 61 off 47 balls. Egleston then picked up 2 more quick wickets to complete a fantastic 5 wicket haul. He bamboozled overseas DeGrussa clean bowling him before taking a sharp caught an bowled to end with figures of 5 for 62. Sarisbury had stuttered slightly to 233 for 9.
Some handy late runs from Franklin and Hill moved the score past 250. Toby Salmon ended proceedings with 5 balls to spare as he clean bowled Hill for 11, Franklin remained unbeaten on 18 as the visitors posted a total of 257. Mixed feeling for the Brewers as some chances went down in the field but they had done well to keep the visitors down.
Harris despite having an injured hand from fielding opened with Gonella as the Brewers looked to chase down their target. Things started well with both openers finding the boundary but when Harris mistimed to mid-on off DeGrussa he was on his way for 12 with the board showing 33. Mark Heffernan joined Gonella to a warm welcome from the visitors but the pair blocked out the noise to put Alton in a good position. Gonella completed a composed half century off 65 balls, but when Heffernan, looking to attack the bowling of Franklin, was caught in the deep for 36 their partnership of 81 was ended but Alton were well placed at 114 for 2.
Myers joined Gonella as Alton continued to accumulate, Alton passed 150 with 19 overs remaining. Another mis-cue this time from Myers as he pulled Josh Hill to midwicket for 24 left Alton 161 for 3. Michael Heffernan joined Gonella, with the pair adding a further 33 but with Heffernan struggling to find any rhythm he was bowled for 11 and Alton now 194 for 4. South and Gonella calmed things down as the Brewers past 200 leaving the Brewers needing 58 off just under 10 overs with 6 wickets in hand
With Gonella approaching his hundred a mix up between the Alton batters tuned the game on its head. Gonella completed a fine hundred as they completed a single but on turning for two South was left stranded and run out for 14. A disappointing way to bring up what was a wonderful hundred by the Alton opener. Alton now 221 for 5. Alton gambled promoting hard hitting Salmon up the order but the gamble did not pay off as he was caught at extra cover first ball to leave Alton now 221 for 6 still needing 37 for victory with 28 balls remaining.
Momentum was with the visitors and when Gonella tried to scoop DeGrussa over fine leg Alton had tumbled to 222 for 7. Gonella departed for 100 off 128 balls an innings that deserved to be match winning but Aton were fluffing their lines. Walters joined Egleston but when Walters was caught for six and Gadsby followed Alton were 237 for 9 still 21 runs short and with only 9 balls remaining. A chase that was at one point under control was now firmly in the visitors hands.
Going into the last over Alton required an improbable 16 runs to win. Appavoo a handy batsman struck the fist ball for two and when he found a boundary off the next Alton required 10 off 4. A single off the third ball put Egleston on strike, the fourth ball went for two which meant Alton needed 7 off 2 to win. DeGrussa bowled the ball in the slot Egleston looked to clear the ropes over to long on but with the sun in his eyes Floyd managed to complete a difficult catch as Alton were all out for 251 with one ball remaining. DeGrussa ending with match winning figures of 5 for 39.
Alton again left to rue key moments in the game. A huge disappointment and huge blow to any title aspirations. Alton will look once again bounce back next week as they travel to second paced Rowledge.