Alton pulled off the shock of the ECB British Gas Southern League’s opening day by beating defending champions Havant in a dramatic last ball finish.

Skipper Scott Myers hit a boundary off Ben Walker’s final ball of the match as the Brewers’ successfully chased down Havant’s 214-8.

Six down, Alton needed three to win off the last over, but in a frantic finish they lost two wickets before requiring two off Walker’s last ball.

“Ben bowled a full wide ball that was inches off being the perfect yorker, but luckily I managed to squeeze it away through cover point for four to see us home,” Myers explained.

Alton had Havant on the rack early on, with the bespectacled Ben Mortimer (4-39) reducing the champions to 57-5.

“We were very aware of the qualify and depth of Havant’s batting and this started to show,” added Myers, who watched several partnerships and contributions from Stuart Ransley (49), Andy Gorvin (43) and Richard Hindley (39) raise the total to 214-8.

Alex Hammond (32) got Alton off to a flier before two wickets fell and Myers joined former Northampton Saints all-rounder Dan Harris (29) in a fruitful partnership.

When Myers added another 50 with Mark Heffernan (29), Alton were firmly in the driving seat, but Hindley (3-35) bowled Havant back into the reckoning.

Myers, who finished with 74 not out, steered Alton onwards and eventually got them home after that frenetic last over.