Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams praised county prospects Wilf Marriott and Lewis McManus for their part in the Academy’s six-wicket victory over his club side St Cross on the Ageas Bowl’s Nursery Ground.

Marriott, recently back from his Oxford Brookes university studies, cracked 98 and McManus hit an unbeaten 96 as the Academy chased down a St Cross total of 240.

“Both lads were very impressive and played very few false shots,” said Adams who hit 60 in the St Cross innings.

“They played the spin bowlers very well, took their time building their their respective innings and looked very polished.”

The Academy’s M-pair won the match after the Young Royals had lost Oli Green (17) and Joe Weatherley in successive balls to Harry Foyle (2-34) immediately before tea.

They lifted the Academy from 47-2 to 175 before Marriott was run out for 98.

McManus was a whisker away from his third hundred in recent weeks, sharing another fruitful partnership with Michael Porter (25), before the target was reached. A seventh defeat in eight matches - they drew the other game - has pushed St Cross even closer to the Southern Electric Premier Division relegation danger spot.

They are now only 18 points ahead of basement club Bournemouth, who are gradually closing the gap.

“We simply didn't get enough runs on what was a 300-run surface,” Adams reflected.

The left-hand Hampshire captain batted first wicket down for the Winchester side and was at the crease pretty quickly after left-arm paceman Tom Barber had Charlie Esson caught behind.

He lost George Adair (25) at 49-2 before sharing a 76-run stand with New Zealander Bill Walsh (33).

The Adacemy had their young spin twins Brad Taylor (2-64) and Mason Crane (1-49) whirling away and, at 145-5, Adams nicked 16 year old offie Taylor behind.

“Both the young spinners caught the eye. They bowled nicely,” Adams said.

It was left to replacement skipper Richard Logan to keep the innings alive after that.

He saw four team-mates depart to Matt King (3-56) but added 48 with Foyle (24) before both batsmen fell to the impressive Ryan Murray, who finished with a creditable 3-36 off 14 overs. Logan made 65, but a relatively modest total of 240 was easy pickings for the Academy.