Matt Howarth took a hat-trick amid a staggering club and personal best spell of 8-21 as St Cross Symondians skittled ECB Southern Premier Division rivals Alton for 75 at Winchester's Green Jackets ground.

His figures were the sixth best in Premier Division history and set St Cross up for a crushing 141-run victory after posting 216 all out.

"Howie's 8-21 bettered an 8-25 by Steve Fryer in 2015 and the previous best Premier Division return of 8-44 by Matt Perry-Lewis against Lymington back in 2012," confirmed St Cross secretary Richard Trussler.

"I suspect a few celebratory beers were sunk afterwards. Howie's a very popular guy at the club."

Howarth, who had never previously taken five wicket in an SPL match, had both Alton openers caught by Felix Organ and then picked up a return catch to remove Sam Ruffell to leave the Brewers 13-3.

Ben Rolfs (21) and Tom South (16) halted Symondians' progress to lift Alton to 66-4, but when Haworth rearranged South's stumps the Brewers collapsed in dramatic fashion.

The last six wickets fell for nine runs - Haworth celebrating a hat-trick with the Alton score at 71 when Mark Heffernan, Bash Walters and Dan Sumner departed in quick succession. 

Haworth went on to remove Tom Varney but was denied a ninth scalp when teenage spinner Callum Willock had Rolfs caught behind.  Ironically, his 8-21 return contained six leg-side wides.

Earlier, Jack Brsansgrove (47), Wilf La Fontaine Jackson (42), and James Overy (22) eased St Cross into a strong position at 126-3 before left-arm spinner Tom South produced a maiden 6-22 return.

St Cross Symondians, away to Basingstoke & North Hants on Sunday, face Burbage & Easton Royal in the ECB club championship at the Green Jackets ground on Sunday, 1pm.