Alton’s first team returned to winning ways with a 39-run victory at home to Lymington in the Southern Premier Cricket League Premier Division on Saturday.

The absence of Tom South, Freddie Egleston and a late injury to Tom Andrews meant Ryan Hale came into the side to open the batting, Dan Sumner returned from holiday and Michael Salmon came in for Andrews.

On another hot day Alton won the toss and elected to bat. After three weeks of fielding first in the longer format this was a welcome change, but the home side knew they would need to take advantage.

Things, however, did not start well. Former Hampshire and Middlesex all-rounder Gareth Berg and Australian overseas Lewis Martin took the new ball for the visitors and they began accurately.

Despite their accurate start it was a loose ball down the leg side by Martin that made the breakthrough. Dan Harris could only watch on in disbelief when he worked the ball off his hip only to see it fly to fine leg where Ax Deem completed the catch. Things got worse as Berg removed Sam Ruffell without scoring as Alton slipped to five for two.

Hale remained as skipper Scott Myers joined him. The home side were struggling to score with any fluency. Overs ticked by but Hale and Myers began to find their footing.

Sensibly they moved Alton into a solid position, with Hale chalking up a well-made 50 in the process. With lunch approaching Myers chipped a ball up off Mohammad Abbas and was caught in the covers for a patient 38. The skipper was frustrated but the vital 98-run partnership had moved Alton to 103 for three.

On the stroke of lunch Hale was given out leg before wicket for 59 off 97 balls. At lunch, Alton were 115 for four.

Asad Abas was introduced into the attack after lunch. The left-arm spinner began accurately and when he trapped Mark Heffernan leg before for three Alton were wobbling at 122 for five. It was spin from both ends and Daniel Cox took a return catch to remove Michael Heffernan for 22. Alton were now 136 for six.

Overseas Bash Walters (37) joined Matt Crane (31) as the pair looked to build a much-needed partnership. They added a vital 63 to take Alton to a respectable score.

With Alton needing one more run to reach 200 and an extra batting point inside 60 overs, both Crane and Walters fell with the score on 199.

Michael Salmon (16 not out) and Dan Sumner (14 not out) secured the extra point and then continued to add pivotal runs. A productive final four overs saw Alton move to a competitive 233 for eight.

There was only time for six overs before the tea break.

This spell belonged to Lymington – where Alton had struggled early on in their innings, there were no such issues for Lymington as they moved past 40 without loss.

Some stern words were shared in the home camp at tea and it was a different side that emerged. Walters steamed in from the Railway End and picked up Jovan Dhariwi for 24, with Hale completing the catch at mid-off. It was soon two when Mohammad Abbas edged Walters to Michael Heffernan at gully, and Lymington were now 65 for two.

Cox then edged Walters behind to Mark Heffernan as the visitors tumbled to 67 for three with Walters taking all three.

This brought together the key pairing of Berg and Ryan Scott. With Lymington’s fast start the run rate was not an issue but both batters played their shots and put the pressure back on Alton.

The introduction of off-spinner Sumner would prove to be pivotal. With Scott and Berg adding 56 Lymington were back in control, but a double breakthrough would tip the scales again. Berg was trapped leg before wicket for 36 when he missed a sweep shot and Scott then skied a ball to mid-off where Walters made no mistake with the catch.

Lymington were now 124 for five and their key batters were back in the pavilion.

Josh Royan and Jake Smith made Alton wait for their next breakthrough but Sumner beat the defences of Royan and bowled him for 11.

Sumner then removed Deem and Martin without troubling the scorers to pick up his first Premier League five-wicket haul, ending with five for 28 off ten overs. The visitors were now in trouble at 177 for eight.

It was now over to the returning Walters, and he trapped Asad Abbas leg before wicket for a duck. Keeper Smith remained and provided a glimmer of hope for the visitors, but despite making it to 50 off just 54 balls his counter punch would not be enough.

Walters breached the defences of Harry Ottembrajt to complete his own five-wicket haul to see the Brewers win by 39 runs. Lymington were all out for 194 and Alton moved off the bottom of the table.

Alton will travel to South Wilts tomorrow (Saturday).