Hampshire Academy were foiled by an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership as Premier Division strugglers Alton held out for a draw at the Jubilee Ground.
The county aspirants looked to have the game tied up when Alton lurched to 128-8 chasing 224 all out.
But skipper Scott Myers, with a defiant 62 not out, and Julian Ballinger (33) denied the Academy the spoils with an unbeaten 69-run ninth-wicket partnership.
Alton held on at 197-8, with Parley left-arm spinner Dom Clutterbuck taking 3-26 on debut.
The Academy innings ebbed and flowed, with Ben Duggan (26) providing a sound start, but after a double breakthrough by Ballinger (4-49), Felix Organ (60) and Josh McCoy (57) made half-centuries.
McCoy’s stand with Tom Scriven (41) lifted the Academy to 224.
The county aspirants looked to have the game tied up when Alton lurched to 128-8 chasing 224 all out.
But skipper Scott Myers, with a defiant 62 not out, and Julian Ballinger (33) denied the Academy the spoils with an unbeaten 69-run ninth-wicket partnership.
Alton held on at 197-8, with Parley left-arm spinner Dom Clutterbuck taking 3-26 on debut.
The Academy innings ebbed and flowed, with Ben Duggan (26) providing a sound start, but after a double breakthrough by Ballinger (4-49), Felix Organ (60) and Josh McCoy (57) made half-centuries.
McCoy’s stand with Tom Scriven (41) lifted the Academy to 224.