B.A.T.Sports v Hampshire Academy

The reasons for pitting a team of talented young Hampshire prospects against the best club cricketers in Hampshire were fully vindicated as the youngest Academy side yet put paid to BAT's four-season-long unbeaten "time" game run, and winning the "Time Pennant" in the process. Only nine weeks before, the young Hawks had suffered a humiliating eight wicket defeat against the same opponents, showing just how much they have learned as a team under the guidance of Tony Middleton and Giles White; neither of whom played in this match - the sole professional being Charlie van der Gucht.

BAT won the toss and elected to bowl first, Chris Thomason removing both openers Richardson and debutant Ed Bruce -younger brother of Jamesto have the Academy in some trouble at 32-2. But then Kevin Latouf (48 in 94 balls, 9 fours) joined Tom Burrows (77 in 142 balls, 10 fours) and the two 17-year-olds played with a growing maturity, both playing as well as this correspondent has seen them, especially before lunch, which was taken at a respectable 123-2.

Despite the early loss of the Pretorian-born Latouf (perhaps wanting to watch the carnage at Lord's!) the young Hawks made relentless progress against a toiling BAT attack. Ian Hilsum (41 in 42 balls, 8 fours) played an excellent cameo captain's innings before he too was run out and Burrows soon followed, but further 11-ball cameo innings from Luke Merry (18, 1 six, 1 four) and David Griffiths (21, 2 sixes, 1 four) gave enough further impetus to enable Hilsum to declare and set BAT a very fair target of 246 to win in what turned out to be a minimum of 60 overs.

Overseas pro Neal Parlane threatened to win the game for BAT on his own. Opening bowlers Griffiths and Matthew Metcalfe could only stand and watch in "admiration" as good length balls disappeared to all parts. One six, hit off the unfortunate Griffiths over extra cover was still on the rise as it hit the pavilion. However, it lokked a different game when the kiwi wasn't facing and Metcalfe (2-29) kept his head to claim 2 wickets before tea, which the home side took at 92-2. Luke Merry bowled a tidy spell on his return from injury.

Parlane (69 in 64 balls, 2 sixes, 10 fours) was a little more circumspect after tea, coinciding with the advent of off spinner Mitchell Stokes (14-3-31-1) into the Academy attack. Then, just as the New Zealander began to get back into his stride, Charlie van der Gucht's (2-41) first ball - a dipping full toss - found Parlane guiding it precisely into the safe hands of James Manning at deep mid wicket. With the young Hawks' tails now firmly up, and with BAT intent on going for their shots, the game changed in its complexion. Ex Academy and Hampshire bowler James Schofield chipped in with 32, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. 153-4 became 186-8 as the game entered its last hour. Nobody could stay with captain Richard Dibden (13*) and the Academy went on to earn a thoroughly deserved 56 run win with over 50 minutes and almost 15 overs to spare. David Griffiths (3-35) came back well to clean up Schofield and the BAT tail.

Manager Tony Middleton was a pleased man after the game, describing the Academy performance as "exceptional"; it usurping the display against Havant two weeks previously as the best in the Academy's short life because it was played on a better surface.

Hampshire Academy now move into second place in the table behind runaway leaders BAT.