Alton slipped to a nail-biting one-run defeat against Burridge in the Southern Premier Cricket League Premier Division on Saturday afternoon.

A warm and sunny Jubilee played host to Alton and last year’s champions Burridge, in what turned out to be a thrilling game of cricket.

Bowling first, Alton got off to an ideal start when Matthew Goles was well caught by Michael Heffernan off the bowling of Bash Walters. Following a small partnership on the flat Jubilee wicket, Burridge captain Joe Collings-Wells was next to go with the team score at 88, edging a Ben Rolfs delivery to captain Scott Myers at first slip.

Tom South, fresh off a six wicket haul against St Cross, then came on to bowl and immediately broke through, with Mark Heffernan snaring a sharp rebound chance to leave the visitors at 88 for three. Bash Walters took his second shortly afterwards, bowling Chris Blake for 11, before South once again got in on the action, trapping Azimunnoor Chowdhury in front of all three. Francis Moore suffered the same fate, deceived by the metronomic South to leave Burridge 111 for six. Inayat Ullah was run out by Rolfs shortly afterwards.

Dan Sumner took two quick wickets, having Daniel Stancliffe caught and bowled before dismissing Oliver Southon caught behind with a gorgeous off-spinner. At 156 for nine Alton had their foot on the throat, however some patient batting for the final wicket helped Burridge climb to 200 all out, with Myers claiming a run out off the last ball of the innings.

In reply, Alton got off to a solid start with Dan Harris and Aarav Rajnikanth both putting away the bad ball and setting a solid platform for the chase ahead. Rajnikanth was first to be dismissed, caught behind off opening bowler Ullah for 16, which brought captain Myers to the crease. Harris continued to dominate the attack, clubbing boundaries on a fast Jubilee outfield, while Myers took to the seamers with a few blazing fours before being bowled by a decent delivery from Stancliffe.

Sam Ruffell came to the crease next and patiently got himself in while supporting Harris, who reached his half-century. Harris was then dismissed for 56 off 60 balls. Rolfs chipped a Moore delivery to mid-on before Michael Heffernan was trapped in front by Goles shortly afterwards. Wickets continued to tumble steadily. Ruffell was dismissed for 24, caught behind off Moore, before Mark Heffernan was bowled by Ullah and Walters fell leg before wicket to the same man.

Sumner was dismissed to leave Alton on 182 for nine, which brought Zack Gadsby to the crease. Some excellent team batting between Gadsby and South helped get the total to 199 with one over remaining. Moore then delivered a perfect bouncer to start the final over which caught South’s glove, and he was caught behind to seal a narrow win for the visitors. Alton will look to bounce back with a win at home to Basingstoke & North Hants on Saturday (12.30pm).