The 19-year old left-hander scored the lion’s share of the Academy’s 236 all out, which fell 54 runs shy of the St Cross total of 290.
The game swung dramatically when former Hampshire cricketer Adam Rouse scored an equally fine 111 and lifted the St Cross score from 210-8, the last two wickets adding a crucial 80 runs.
“I fell so sorry for Tom. He batted brilliantly, but it was pretty poor batting wise (for us) not to chase down 290 with one guy getting 151,” lamented Academy skipper Joe Weatherley.
New Zealander Mike Pollard (54) and Matt Stokes (22) eased St Cross to 93-1, but with Weatherley enjoying a rare and extended off-spin bowl and taking 4-43, the host middle-order gave way.
Richard Taylor (20) gave things a lift, but with Mason Crane and Felix Organ making further inroads, St Cross were not in particularly good shape at 210-8.
But Rouse, who served his cricketing apprenticeship with the Academy, was still there and with James Marsh (23) and Tabs Farooq late partners, he pressed the green ‘go’ button and flayed the ball all around the ground. He hit a six and 16 fours in his 111 which lit up the tail end of the innings and gave St Cross a competitive edge.
Back garden cricket became the real thing when Tom Alsop, having kept wicket for 62 overs, opened the Academy batting and went head-to-head with his brother Stan, who took the new ball for St Cross.
Tom won the day, spanking his younger sibling for a succession of boundaries.
But Stan wasn’t finished and, after Weatherley had nicked a catch behind, Alsop junior bagged Brad Taylor and the in-form Ben Duggan to leave the county youngsters 28-3.
Jake Goodwin (20) and Andy Gorvin (31) supported Alsop but as the reply slipped to 185-7, it was largely the former England Under-19 left-hander playing St Cross on his own.
In the end, it was all a bit too much for Alsop (pictured by Roy Honeybone), who was eventually trapped leg before by the Channel Islander Stokes, who finished with 3-50.
Alsop had spent all bar one of the game’s 99 overs on the field and, despite his heroics, finished in the losing dressing room.