ALTON bemoaned their lack of consistency as, one week after beating New Milton, they lost heavily to Winchester side St Cross in the Southern Premier League.

Both sides were forced to field much-changed sides and Scott Myers was pleased to win the toss and bowl first at the Greenjackets ground.

But although paceman Sean Jamison often beat the bat, St Cross captain Tom Foyle set the tone for his team by latching onto anything loose. After hitting 37 off 38 balls, he skied an attempted pull shot back to Jamison who took the catch.

Logan Van Beek was also in a hurry, only to be stumped off Myers for 21, but opener Matt Stokes and Harry Came moved the score from 106-2 to 185 either side of lunch before Stokes was out for a patient 69 off 136 balls, miscuing a shot to Alex Hammond at backward point and giving Lee Partner his first Premier Division wicket.

Toby Salmon returned to dismiss Jacob Fay and then deflected the ball onto the stumps on his follow-through to run out the unlucky Came for 49.

Partner picked up three late wickets to finish with 4-78, but with the late order chipping in usefully, St Cross posted 270-8 in 64 overs.

A strong start was key to Alton’s chances and openers Abeed Janmohamed and Hammond put on 30 in good style. But then Hammond was caught at slip off Stokes for 15 and the wheels fell off in alarming fashion.

Dan Harris was run out, Janmohamed was bowled ‘shouldering arms’, and Michael Heffernan, struggling for form, was bowled for a duck by overseas player Van Beek. Alton had gone from 30-0 to 34-4.

Myers and Mark Heffernan attempted to dig in, but the captain also left a ball with fatal consequences, giving Stokes his third wicket. Pranay Rathod removed Andy Postles and Heffernan just when they looked set and Alton lurched to 80-8 before Jamison and Salmon rallied to take their side past the 100 mark.

Jamison made the score more respectable with an entertaining 50 off 41 balls before being caught off Van Beek. Alton were dismissed for a disappointing 130, Salmon surviving 45 balls for his 7 not out.

The Brewers have a chance to put this result quickly behind them when they host bottom side Andover this Saturday.