HAMPSHIRE Academy captain Felix Organ scored a century at the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground on Saturday, while opposite number Scott Myers held the key to Alton’s survival in a high-scoring draw in the Southern Premier League.

Dan Harris’s 91 had powered Alton to a promising 195-3, but the visitors collapsed to 220-8 and it was thanks to the resilience of Myers, unbeaten on 62, and number 10 Devyn Scott that Alton held on for a draw at 262-8.

With the Brewers set to face the county’s talented youngsters twice over the weekend, they knew they would need to be at their best

Myers elected to bowl first, hoping for early assistance from the pitch, but Organ and George Metzger put on 69 for the first wicket before Alton debutant Dev Scott broke the stand.

Organ reached a dominant century during a partnership of 126 with Fletcha Middleton (66) and was 119 off 123 balls when he played on to Toby Salmon.

England U19 player Tom Scriven helped Middleton move the score towards 250, but then Alton began to fight back and Julian Ballinger’s 5-77 in 16 overs – the off-spinner’s 23rd five-wicket haul in Premier League cricket – helped contain the Academy to a still formidable 296-9 in the 61st over.

The start of Alton’s reply was nothing if not eventful. Marco Marais, still carrying a thigh strain, was dropped off Scriven’s first ball, hit a boundary, and the fourth and fifth deliveries were dispatched over the ropes. A single completed the over which had yielded 19 runs.

In the second over, Marais struck two more fours off Chris Searle before being caught by Scriven for 27 off 10 balls; Alton 27-1.

Scriven produced a good delivery to bowl Alex Hammond, but Michael Heffernan and Dan Harris added 116 either side of tea before the former went for a gritty 40.

Alton were in a strong position at 144-3 and with Myers and Harris now together and plenty of overs remaining, Alton took a grip of the game.

Things changed again, though, when confusion between the pair saw Harris adjudged marginally – very marginally – run out for an impressive 91 off 82 balls, including 17 fours. The middle order faltered against Searle and Scriven and the Brewers went from 195-4 to 210-7.

Myers was still there, but any chance of victory was receding fast and when Salmon was caught and bowled by seamer Searle (4-66), Alton were in danger of defeat at 220-8.

There was still time for Academy to close out the game, but Myers clmaly managed the difficult task of both protecting the tail and batting out time.

The captain reached a superb rearguard fifty and found an able partner in new boy Dev Scott. The pair played out 16 overs to deny the county victory and seal a fighting draw.

This Saturday, Alton host Basingstoke at the Jubilee Ground (start 11am).