A WEAKENED Alton side were shot down by the Hampshire Academy young guns at the Jubilee Ground on Saturday.

Electing to bat, Alton failed to get enough runs to seriously test the Academy who cruised to a six-wicket victory.

Michael Heffernan fell lbw to Tom Scriven in the first over, but Joe Paul and Abhay Gonella did not panic and added 46 in a good stand.

Joe Paul and Scott Myers then moved Alton to a promising 105-2 before the rot set in. Paul went for a patient 37 off 79 balls and with Hugo Hammond run out without facing and Mark Heffernan gone for a duck, Alton had slipped to 109-5.

Ajeet Dale claimed the big wicket of Myers, bowled for 31, and young seamer Sonny Reynolds cut through the late order with a spell of 4-28 in nine overs.

Alex Hughes, making a first-team comeback, put up some late resistance 18 not out before Alton were all out for 170, Hampshire having generously donated 49 extras, including 29 wides.

Missing their regular opening attack, Alton turned to Dan Scott and young spinner Xavier Bochereau. George Metzger was soon lbw to Bochereau (his first Premier wicket) and Felix Organ, after an untroubled start, was caught off first-change Hughes.

Coming together at 64-2, Scriven, fresh from his his Hampshire T20 debut the night before, and Fletcha Middleton added 37 before the latter was smartly stumped by Mark Heffernan off Gonella.

Hampshire were similarly placed to Alton at 101-3, but there was to be no similar collapse by the county tyros and Scriven’s excellent 75 not out saw them home with nine overs to spare.

Alton make the short trip to Basingstoke this Saturday in their penultimate fixture.