BY GEORGE ... ACADEMY ROMP HOME

Jake George and Wilf Marriott, who shared a double century partnership for Hampshire Under-17s recently, led the way as the Academy checked Alton’s recent revival with a 54-run victory at the Rose Bowl.
George (68) and Marriott (66) added 100 for the second wicket after Robert Gibson (35) had given the Young Hawks a sound start. So young was the Academy side that six of Tony Middleton’s starlets were sitting GCSE examinations a month or so ago. They certainly passed their batting tests with flying colours as Benny Howell (30 not out) and Chris Stone (24) powered the county fledglings to 256-6. Frequent rain interruptions meant Alton being set 187 to win in 27 overs. It was purely academic after Dave Taylor (46) and Darren Augustus (33) had departed, Alton collapsing from 87-2 to 133 all out. Jack Sheppard (2-40) took the first two wickets, after which James Haggaty (2-37) and Howell (3-25) chipped away. The off-spin of Marriott (2-4) accounted for the tail.