Hampshire prospect Felix Organ returned to his St Cross Symondians roots to hit an unbeaten 86 and lead the county’s Academy side to a seven-wicket victory at the sun kissed Green Jackets Ground.
His knock, built around three separate half-century partnerships, eased a quietly confident Academy side past Symondians’ 193-8 with eight overs to spare.
Naturally disappointed to have missed out on selection for England Under-17s in this winter’s ICC Youth World Cup in New Zealand, Organ showed a steely determination to succeed on the tree lined Winchester ground where he spent his embryo junior club years.
“Felix has been a tad short on runs, but he really dug in and this knock will be a timely boost for his confidence levels,” said Academy Director Charlie Freeston.
“It was a gritty performance and he was very determined to win the game.”
Organ, who as a 12-year old led St Cross Symondians to glory in the 2012 ECB Under-13 national championships, initially shared stands with Miles Kantolinna (32) and Fletcha Middleton (16).
But it was his partnership with Tom Scriven (39) which really won the day, the pair inflicting damage on a toothless St Cross attack – their breezy 89-run stand only ending when Scriven was spectacularly caught one-handed by Tom Veillard.
By then it was almost all over, Organ plundering seven fours and three sixes, one off leggie Charlie Ayres soaring over mid-wicket and out of the ground into some adjoining gardens.
Earlier, Ed Ellis celebrated his St Cross Symondians debut with a mature 73, only to find himself upstaged by Organ.
Ellis’s innings was full of imaginative shots – he hit two sixes and seven fours – and pointed St Cross to a total they ought really have bettered.
They suffered two early blows to impressive new-ball pair Scott Currie (4-25) and Chris Searle (2-28), but Ellis, who has joined the Winchester club from Lymington, took them to 146-6, before being dismissed a couple of deliveries after being struck a painful blow in the groin.
St Cross fell away after that, the seemingly ever growing Currie (younger sibling of Bashley’s Brad Currie) taking three wickets in quick succession.
Symondians’ total of 193-8 looked a competitive one for the Academy to chase on a track that offered assistance to the bowlers all afternoon.
But as Charlie Freeston pointed out, the side is gaining in maturity now.
“This group of players has been together for a while now. In the past a total like that might have proved daunting, but they batted sensibly to chase it down well,” he said.
One area the Academy need to improve on is bowling accuracy – 31 wides (out of 40 extras) proving a welcome gift …
St Cross Symondians look to have bowling problems of a similar nature. Unless they find a wicket-taking strike bowler, they are going to spend some long hours in the field this summer.
His knock, built around three separate half-century partnerships, eased a quietly confident Academy side past Symondians’ 193-8 with eight overs to spare.
Naturally disappointed to have missed out on selection for England Under-17s in this winter’s ICC Youth World Cup in New Zealand, Organ showed a steely determination to succeed on the tree lined Winchester ground where he spent his embryo junior club years.
“Felix has been a tad short on runs, but he really dug in and this knock will be a timely boost for his confidence levels,” said Academy Director Charlie Freeston.
“It was a gritty performance and he was very determined to win the game.”
Organ, who as a 12-year old led St Cross Symondians to glory in the 2012 ECB Under-13 national championships, initially shared stands with Miles Kantolinna (32) and Fletcha Middleton (16).
But it was his partnership with Tom Scriven (39) which really won the day, the pair inflicting damage on a toothless St Cross attack – their breezy 89-run stand only ending when Scriven was spectacularly caught one-handed by Tom Veillard.
By then it was almost all over, Organ plundering seven fours and three sixes, one off leggie Charlie Ayres soaring over mid-wicket and out of the ground into some adjoining gardens.
Earlier, Ed Ellis celebrated his St Cross Symondians debut with a mature 73, only to find himself upstaged by Organ.
Ellis’s innings was full of imaginative shots – he hit two sixes and seven fours – and pointed St Cross to a total they ought really have bettered.
They suffered two early blows to impressive new-ball pair Scott Currie (4-25) and Chris Searle (2-28), but Ellis, who has joined the Winchester club from Lymington, took them to 146-6, before being dismissed a couple of deliveries after being struck a painful blow in the groin.
St Cross fell away after that, the seemingly ever growing Currie (younger sibling of Bashley’s Brad Currie) taking three wickets in quick succession.
Symondians’ total of 193-8 looked a competitive one for the Academy to chase on a track that offered assistance to the bowlers all afternoon.
But as Charlie Freeston pointed out, the side is gaining in maturity now.
“This group of players has been together for a while now. In the past a total like that might have proved daunting, but they batted sensibly to chase it down well,” he said.
One area the Academy need to improve on is bowling accuracy – 31 wides (out of 40 extras) proving a welcome gift …
St Cross Symondians look to have bowling problems of a similar nature. Unless they find a wicket-taking strike bowler, they are going to spend some long hours in the field this summer.
