Hampshire League - Regional Division North 1 Old Alresford (179-7) beat Alton III (164-7).

With the pitch true but slow and low Old Alresford elected to bat when they met Alton 3rds last Saturday.

Andy Stevenson batted well for his 45 (three 6s and four 4s) in a stand of 70 with opener Dave Stanbrook who until then had batted with much caution. However, with wickets falling regularly at the other end, his innings blossomed and the final six scoring shots of his 65 included four 6s.

A total of 179 for 7 secured six batting points and set Alton a reasonable target. The most successful bowler was P Sampson (4-31). The 35 extras Alton conceded compared later with Old Alresford's 7 was to prove crucial.

The first nine overs of the Alton innings produced just 21 runs and, with pressure mounting, John Waters took two wickets in the tenth over with accurate swinging deliveries. Rob Nicklin and Lee Partner then stayed together for 19 overs in a partnership of 86 runs.

With only three regular front-line bowlers available skipper James Lees turned to 14-year-old Ben Stanbrook and James Read who on the final ball of what turned out to be his only over had Nicklin caught off a mistimed hook for 78.

Cyril Sankey who had been a shade expensive earlier was brought back into the attack and took a wicket in the first over of his new spell. This was immediately after Ben Stanbrook's sixth over which by virtue of remarkable catches by Dave Stanbrook and James Lees was a double wicket maiden.

Remarkably four wickets had fallen with the total at 107 and with Cyril and Ben bowling steadily until the end of the innings Alton fell 15 runs short of their target.

Ben Stanbrook led his team from the field to warm applause with figures of 2 for 32 off 11 overs and it is possible that he might now have earned the right to be considered a regular' bowler.