Alton Cricket Club’s women’s team beat New Forest by five wickets.

The Brewers fielded first and Mel Vaggers made the early breakthrough in the third over with the visitors on four.

Maeve Martin and Emma Mills then put on 63 for the second wicket before Abi Green stumped Mills off Amelia Marshall in the over after the drinks break.

Martin went on to score 79 before seeing her off stump removed by Caitlin Wilmot as she returned for her second spell.

From that point only skipper Paige Bailey (30) showed any resistance before also falling to Wilmot, who finished with figures of four for 27.

While the Brewers’ fielding had room for improvement, the bowling line-up performed superbly, spearheaded by skipper Jorja Wright. She bowled a miserly spell and was ably supported by Vaggers (one for 39) and Marshall (two for 22).

The visitors were restricted to 174 for eight off their allotted 40 overs.

Alton openers Vaggers and Wright made a blistering start before a second mix-up of the season between the pair led to Wright being run out by Katie Jones for 14.

Jones then lured Vaggers (18) into a top edge that was taken by Jemima Gittins, and at 47 for two the target seemed a long way off.

The experienced pairing of Nic Gadsby (20) and Amelia Marshall (56 not out) did exactly what was required, steadying the ship with an excellent 56-run partnership.

Gadsby was bowled by Bailey, but Green took the game to the visitors with a quickfire 24 which included three fours and a six before being trapped leg before wicket to set up a tense finale.

Marshall was up to the task, though, and batted well with Sara Heff and Lucy Butler to see Alton home with five balls to spare.