Alton-raised Jude Wright celebrated his maiden ECB Southern Premier League century before the Academy’s last pair survived the last 20 balls of the day to deny Havant victory and ultimately snatch a ‘winning draw’ at the Park.
The Academy closed on 244-9 off 56 overs, finishing with 16 points to Havant’s 11 due their superior scoring rate. The hosts had posted 270-8 off 64 overs.
In a dramatic finale, Louis Prichard (teenage son of former Essex captain Paul Prichard) faced two overs from Richard Hindley, failing to score a run but crucially not being dismissed.
At the other end, former Hampshire left-arm seamer and academy coach James Tomlinson (filling in due to illness) saw off the eight deliveries he faced after Ethan Baker had been caught and bowled by 14-year old spinner Matty Hayward off the fourth ball of the 53rd over.
The draw kept the Hampshire youngsters firmly in the title race, level with St Cross Symondians (177) and only nine off leaders South Wilts, who drew their match in Winchester.
The Academy reply had begun badly, Richard Jerry (2-36), back after a side strain, dismissed both openers - Tom Cheater and Charlie Mumford - for ducks.
Jude Wright led the fightback, hitting 12 fours and two sixes in a career best 120 off 123 balls. The respected Churcher’s College (Petersfield) prefect’s previous two hundreds had both been for Hampshire youth - one at under-14 level, the other for the under-18s against Sussex YCs in 2021.
Millfield’s Joe Eckland (43) and emerging Rowledge prospect Ethan Martin (36) also impressed for the Academy, while teenage left-arm slow Hayward (3-66) was Havant’s leading wicket-taker.
Wicket-keeper George Metzger had earlier come within four runs of making his second SPL century. Coming in at 94-4, the former Academy player shared a fifth wicket stand of 75 with Harry Gadd (26) and a sixth wicket stand of 80 with Hindley (36). He- struck 11 fours in his 92-ball innings before he was bowled by left-armer Archie Fairfax-Ross.
The Academy closed on 244-9 off 56 overs, finishing with 16 points to Havant’s 11 due their superior scoring rate. The hosts had posted 270-8 off 64 overs.
In a dramatic finale, Louis Prichard (teenage son of former Essex captain Paul Prichard) faced two overs from Richard Hindley, failing to score a run but crucially not being dismissed.
At the other end, former Hampshire left-arm seamer and academy coach James Tomlinson (filling in due to illness) saw off the eight deliveries he faced after Ethan Baker had been caught and bowled by 14-year old spinner Matty Hayward off the fourth ball of the 53rd over.
The draw kept the Hampshire youngsters firmly in the title race, level with St Cross Symondians (177) and only nine off leaders South Wilts, who drew their match in Winchester.
The Academy reply had begun badly, Richard Jerry (2-36), back after a side strain, dismissed both openers - Tom Cheater and Charlie Mumford - for ducks.
Jude Wright led the fightback, hitting 12 fours and two sixes in a career best 120 off 123 balls. The respected Churcher’s College (Petersfield) prefect’s previous two hundreds had both been for Hampshire youth - one at under-14 level, the other for the under-18s against Sussex YCs in 2021.
Millfield’s Joe Eckland (43) and emerging Rowledge prospect Ethan Martin (36) also impressed for the Academy, while teenage left-arm slow Hayward (3-66) was Havant’s leading wicket-taker.
Wicket-keeper George Metzger had earlier come within four runs of making his second SPL century. Coming in at 94-4, the former Academy player shared a fifth wicket stand of 75 with Harry Gadd (26) and a sixth wicket stand of 80 with Hindley (36). He- struck 11 fours in his 92-ball innings before he was bowled by left-armer Archie Fairfax-Ross.