ALTON were hoping to bounce back from last week’s heavy defeat, but it was a repeat dose for the Brewers as Southern Premier League title contenders Lymington dominated affairs in the New Forest.

A powerful Lymington line-up had put Alton to the sword earlier in the season and although Ben Mortimer picked up an early wicket, Dominic Hand and Ryan Scott saw up the 100 before Scott Myers broke the stand with a fine return catch.

Hand, after riding his luck early on, stood steadfast and he and the confident Richard Lock put Lymington in total control at lunch, 173-2.

On the restart, Alton put a brake on the run-rate, but struggled to take wickets. Mortimer bowled a good second spell to frustrate Lock and eventually bowled him for 51. Sean Jamison removed the dangerous Calvin Dickinson, but by this time the home team were 244 and Hand was still there, making it to a maiden Premier hundred before being run out in bizarre fashion for a gritty 105 off 165 balls.

After a final flourish from Ed Ellis and skipper Simon Beetham, Lymington declared at 303-5 in the 63rd over.

Alton chances of chasing down this huge total, already slim, disappeared completely as they lost two wickets before tea and then subsided to 75-4, opener Abeed Janmohamed having hit the ball nicely for his 37.

Scott Myers and Michael Heffernan tried to salvage something from the wreckage, but the Brewers imploded and lost their last six wickets for just seven runs, opening bowler Matt Metcalfe recording superb figures of 7-46 in 17.5 overs.

No respite for Alton who visit league leaders South Wilts this week.

• On Sunday, Alton host the young Hampshire Academy side in the quarter-finals of the SPL T20 Cup. The bar and barbecue will again be open and spectators are welcome (start 3pm at Jubilee).