AT Chapel Gate and Chelmsford, Alton and Essex are unlikely to have marked their ignominious failures in similar fashion.

Almost 23 years to the day since Bournemouth bowled out Alton for nought, Lancashire skittled Essex for just 20 on Friday.

“Alton were magnanimous in defeat,” recalled Bournemouth paceman Alan Hayden, who claimed four wickets from seven maidens.

“I think they were as shocked as we were. They joined us in the bar and drank to it. We had a communal booze-up to celebrate!”

One of the most astonishing innings in the history of the game unfolded after Bournemouth had posted a modest 145 in the Southern League clash between the clubs’ second teams.

Seamer Hayden, who had been promoted from the thirds as a late replacement, combined with legendary local off-spinner Ash Naik to rewrite the competition record books.

Naik snared five victims as Alton were put to the sword, their torturous reply lasting just 46 minutes with their last man unable to bat after injuring himself during the Bournemouth innings.

Bournemouth captain Mo Haniff said he remembered the match as if it had taken place yesterday – and could even recall Alton had been routed in 13.3 overs.

He said: “You never forget these things. It was a wet wicket and we were bowled out for 145.

“We had a very good team and I remember going into the changing room and having a right go at my batsmen because they didn’t do very well.

“When we went out to bowl, I remember saying to the players that we mustn’t give them a single run and they would have to work for everything. We were so tight in the field and the bowling was excellent.

“You could sense something was in the offing after we had taken the first five wickets for no runs. The club manager at the time came out and started taking photos of the scoreboard.

“There was a lot of publicity about the game and Alton probably got more than we did. I remember going back to Ghana to visit some family after Christmas that year and it was on Test Match Special!

“Alton were in the papers for a few days afterwards and The Sun had a picture of a bat with a hole in the middle and a duck on the handle.

“It was an amazing day and it cost me a lot of money with the celebrations.

“I didn’t mind though because it isn’t every day you bowl out a team for nought.”

Just three weeks previously, Alton had penned a new chapter in the Southern League record books by amassing 302 for five against Poole, the highest innings in the competition.

“Three of the guys who had hit big scores against Poole played against us so we thought we were going to be in for a tough game,” said Hayden.

“We only made 145 and that was a disappointing score for us. We were given a bit of a rollicking by the captain at tea.

“The ball was doing a bit. I was getting it to swing and cut back and Ash was getting a bit of turn from the other end.

“You could see the batsmen were frustrated because every time they hit the ball, it went to a fielder.

“It gradually occurred to us that they hadn’t got any runs and I think it got to them as well. It was unbelievable when we got the final wicket. We didn’t know whether they were going to be embarrassed about it or what but we all had a good time in the bar afterwards!”