Ventnor’s faint hopes of catching South Wilts at the top of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League were dashed by a hefty eight-wicket defeat by the Hampshire Academy on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground.

They were on the back foot from the start as England Under-19 left-arm quick Tom Barber (3-24) and Matt King (2-46) extracted life and bounce from a green-tinged surface, Oli Mills (0) and South Australia’s Travis Head (5) falling to catches by wicketkeeper Lewis McManus.

Jake George (44) and Marc-Antony Eysele repaired the early damage, but both departed in the mid-80s, leaving Ian Hilsum (31) and Neil Westhorpe to reboot the innings once again.

Spinners Mason Crane (3-57) and Brad Taylor ((0-20) wheeled away, leaving Westhorpe to make 62 before Barber returned for a second spell to leave Ventnor with 214 to defend.

The target proved relative meat and drink for the Young Royals, with Will Harris (32) and Oli Green (27) providing a 74-run start.

The main plus-point from an Academy perspective was the unbeaten 74 Tom Alsop scored on his return from a knee injury which ruled him out of the recent England Under-19 tri-series against Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Alsop needed time at the crease and his two partnerships with McManus (23) and Michael Porter (32 not out), which sealed Ventnor’s fate, will have provided timely confidence.