Ventnor hit 13 runs off the final over to snatch a dramatic last-ball three-wicket victory over potential title rivals St Cross Symondians at the Royal Green Jackets Ground.

The last-gasp win kept the Islanders on course for a hat-trick of Second Division championships but with Trojans and Andover going well, it promises to be a close-run contest once again.

At 128-4 and only ten overs remaining, Ventnor looked outsiders to overhaul a competitive St Cross Symondians total of 213-6.

But they put their foot on the accelerator pedal in the nick of time to score 48 runs off the last six overs no easy feat on a relatively slow surface on which batsmen had generally struggled to impose themselves.

Some big hitting by Charlie Freeston (27) and later eighth-wicket pair Andy Whyte (21) and Andy Day got Ventnor home off the last ball.

The St Cross total had been underpinned by the tall and upright James Irvine-Fortescue, who struck ten boundaries in an imposing 81.

JIF, as he is popularly known, saw three teammates depart during his stay at the crease, among them Hampshire left-hander Jimmy Adams, who gave his all for the Winchester club where he grew up.

Three weeks earlier Adams had struck a career-best 168 in Hampshire's magnificent victory over Yorkshire at Headingly.

But, to underline what a great leveller cricket can be, the left-hander was prised out by a 15-year spinner!

Danny Briggs, though, is a name to watch in the future.

He toured the West Indies with the West of England Schools Under-15 side at Easter and has been fine-tuning his left-arm spin on the island since he was in short trousers.

He deceived Adams in the flight, lured the Hampshire left-hander out of his crease and Briggs wore a broad smile as Mark Whyte completed a neat stumping.

St Cross later dropped to 157-6 but produced a pre-tea spurt with Raj Naik (39) and Joe Lovett (29) sharing an unbroken 56-run stand.

Ventnor chugged along at three an over for the most part of their innings, with Rob Snell (48), promoted to open in recent weeks, keeping the score ticking along at a steady pace.

Neil Westhorpe (48) did his bit, but when he was spectacularly caught in the deep by the diving Adams at 151-6, Ventnor looked hard pressed to win.

From the 45th over onwards, however, the match took a different turn.

Freeston launched two big sixes over wide mid-wicket and struck several other blows in a quick-fire 29. He was run out in the 48th over, leaving Whyte (21 not out) and Day to score 29 runs off 17 balls.

Rookie Jo Lovett, the youngest player in the St Cross side, was given the tough responsibility of bowling the 50th and last over.

Ventnor were on 201-7 and still 13 runs short of the victory target.

The 17-year old began by bowling two wides and then saw his third legitimate ball smashed straight back into the far sight-screen for a six by Andy Day.

The pair scrambled a run off each of the final three deliveries to get Ventnor home ... in the nick of time!