ALTON edged closer to mid-table in the Southern Premier League after edging out Burridge in a low-scoring, but fascinating affair at the Jubilee Ground.

After last week’s disappointment, the Brewers started watchfully after being put in, but mostly struggled against a good visiting attack.

Alex Hammond was caught behind off Nick McMurray with only 17 scored. Dan Harris, fresh from a hundred the week before, joined Abeed Janmohamed, with the bowlers maintaining a tight, probing line.

Harris edged Dan Stancliffe behind and Alton were 38-2. Scott Myers and Janmohamed looked to rebuild and the experienced pair looked comfortable as the score moved past 70.

Sullivan White then joined the attack and the seamer made the breakthrough, Myers miscuing to gully for 17. Alton 71-3.

Janmohamed was still there, pouncing on anything short, and had scored 46 in a 94-ball stay, including seven boundaries, when White found the edge, giving keeper Will Steward another catch.

Four wickets down for 90, the Heffernan brothers saw Alton through to lunch, only to both fall to White soon after the restart and when Andy Postles was removed by the economical Brighton Mugochi, the Brewers were in real trouble at 116-7.

Alton needed their lower order to deliver. It was not to be. Sean Jamison was caught at slip off Mugochi and when White dismissed Jack Myers to claim his fifth victim, Alton were 127-9. Ben Mortimer and Julian Ballinger frustrated Burridge until Mortimer picked out long-on and Alton were all out for 139, White taking 5-44 in 18 overs and Mugochi 3-22 in 13.5.

A modest score, but the pitch was offering variable bounce and Alton’s hopes rose when Mortimer removed Dan Hewitt for a duck. This failed to discourage the visitors from an aggressive approach and with Jamie Richards and Joe Collings-Wells throwing the bat at anything wide, Burridge had the initiative as the partnership reached 50.

It took a fine delivery from Jamison to bowl Richards for 37 (73-2) and at that vital stage, skipper Myers gambled by introducing leg-spinner Jack Myers against the aggressive Collings-Wells and bringing the field in.

Collings-Wells obliged by trying to clear the infield and was caught by Michael Heffernan at mid-on. Even so, Burridge seemed in total control at tea, 91-3.

On the restart, Alton threw everything at their opponents and young Myers produced a magnificent spell to transform the game. He bowled both Steward and Marcus Campopiano in quick succession and the home side had a glimmer of hope at 95-5.

Stancliffe joined dangerous overseas player Mugochi, but Myers was not finished. The leg-spinner bowled Mugochi and induced Stancliffe to play on.

Myers had taken five wickets in a row and the visitors, 107-7, still needed 33 runs. Myers made it six by dismissing skipper Richard Ankers with a wonderful delivery, finding the edge to give brother Scott the catch at slip. The spinner finished with 6-32 in 14 overs.

The game took another twist as Sullivan White edged Burridge closer to the target and they needed just nine runs with two wickets intact.

Jamison then trapped Charles Bolton in front. Seven runs required, with Smith 17 not out and eying up victory. But the returning Ballinger had the Burridge number 11 in his sights. The experienced off-spinner trapped McMurray in front, a vociferous appeal was upheld, and the Brewers had pulled off an unlikely victory.

• This Saturday, Alton are home to Havant, hoping to repeat their notable win on the first day of the season. On Sunday, the Brewers entertain local rivals Liphook & Ripsley in the second round of the SPL T20 Cup. The game starts at 3pm and spectators are welcome to enjoy the T20 action, barbecue and bar.