Tom Allam was the toast of Tichborne Park after guiding the Alresford club to their first Southern Electric Premier Division 2 victory of the season.

He followed up a 3-44 return with the ball by hitting a match winning 81 not out as Tichborne rallied from 109-7 to chase down United Services’ 191-8 and win by three wickets.

Tichborne remain bottom, but at least they have closed the gap on the teams immediately above them in the log.

United Services, in relegation difficulty themselves, struggled with the bat, with only Dominic Carson (36) and Mark Toogood (35) making much impression at the top of the order.

Tichborne bowled well and had US at 131-7 before Dave Cox hit an unbeaten 42 to lift their final total to 191-8 (Aidan Pond 2-19).

The visitors didn’t make the best of starts with Michael Johnston getting a duck – the Queenslander has made only 117 league runs in seven knocks – but Ed Primmer (32) shepherded the reply to 87-3.

The outcome was in the balance with Park’s reply at 109, but Allam eventually found a reliable partner in Doug Butler and gradually they turned the tide.

Allam went on to hit 81, including a six and 11 fours, and share an unbroken 84-run eighth-wicket stand with Doug Butler (27), which earned Tichborne their first win points of the summer.