Wilf La Fontaine-Jackson and Archie Fairfax-Ross, two teenagers with the longest surnames in Southern Premier League cricket, were the toast of the Hampshire Academy after their unbroken sixth-wicket partnership rescued the Young Hawks title prospects.
Caught on a real Southern Gardens turner, the Academy dropped to 66-5 in response to Totton & Eling’s 143 all out and were in danger of gifting the championship to St Cross Symondians.
But the two youngsters bedded in and showed off both their attacking and defensive skills with an undefeated 78-run stand which doubled the Academy total and won a priceless victory.
“We were under enormous pressure, with Totton employing spin from the outset and setting close fields with catchers around the bat and the ball lifting and turning, but Archie and myself had the technique to survive,” explained Winchester College’s La Fontaine-Jackson.
Ironically, the Academy hat got off to a blistering start with Totton raised Tom Cheater blasting four sixes and four boundaries in a 17-ball 40.
But former Berkshire Minor Counties all-rounder Harry Stephens (3-74) and Brighton Mugochi (2-41) eked out five wickets, three of them falling for 16 runs before La Fontaine-Jackson (48) and Fairfax-Ross (30) launched their match winning and potentially title saving stand. It was all over in the 26th over.
Earlier, Totton lost wickets in clusters, initially to 15-years old seam prospect Oli Cordery (2-15) before the Academy turned to spin and Ethan Baker (3-46) and Louis Pritchard (2-30) reduced the hosts to 89-7.
Totton were indebted to Mugochi (30) and Oliver Hemsley (19) for adding 40 for their eighth wicket before the left-arm spin of Fairfax-Ross (2-19) ended the resistance at 143 all out.
Caught on a real Southern Gardens turner, the Academy dropped to 66-5 in response to Totton & Eling’s 143 all out and were in danger of gifting the championship to St Cross Symondians.
But the two youngsters bedded in and showed off both their attacking and defensive skills with an undefeated 78-run stand which doubled the Academy total and won a priceless victory.
“We were under enormous pressure, with Totton employing spin from the outset and setting close fields with catchers around the bat and the ball lifting and turning, but Archie and myself had the technique to survive,” explained Winchester College’s La Fontaine-Jackson.
Ironically, the Academy hat got off to a blistering start with Totton raised Tom Cheater blasting four sixes and four boundaries in a 17-ball 40.
But former Berkshire Minor Counties all-rounder Harry Stephens (3-74) and Brighton Mugochi (2-41) eked out five wickets, three of them falling for 16 runs before La Fontaine-Jackson (48) and Fairfax-Ross (30) launched their match winning and potentially title saving stand. It was all over in the 26th over.
Earlier, Totton lost wickets in clusters, initially to 15-years old seam prospect Oli Cordery (2-15) before the Academy turned to spin and Ethan Baker (3-46) and Louis Pritchard (2-30) reduced the hosts to 89-7.
Totton were indebted to Mugochi (30) and Oliver Hemsley (19) for adding 40 for their eighth wicket before the left-arm spin of Fairfax-Ross (2-19) ended the resistance at 143 all out.