Hampshire prospect Lewis McManus underlined his growing potential with a sparkling knock of 74 on debut as St Cross Symondians held off a determined Ventnor bid to snatch victory on the Green Jackets Ground.

Chasing 277-6, Ventnor finished 11 runs adrift at 266-5 after Tom Friend had struck a superb century.

St Cross built their formidable total on the back of a 146-run opening partnership involving their new skipper, left-handed New Zealander Billy Walsh (72), and Matt Drakeley, who made 63 on his debut.

But it was the 60-ball knock by McManus – watched by Hampshire’s director of cricket Giles White – which caught the eye.

The 19-year-old prospect, who made a century in each innings of his recent Hampshire debut against Cardiff UCCE, used his feet nicely, often batting ‘back of the crease’ to manoeuvre his shots around the field.

His straight six off Tom Friend towards the end of the St Cross innings was arguably the shot of the day.

Ventnor held their catches well, but the 33 extras they conceded – 24 wides effectively gifted St Cross four extra overs – later came back to haunt them.

Ben Duggan, their tall upright teenage left-hand opener, played some delightful flowing drives to get Ventnor away to a positive start, but it was the third-wicket partnership between Ian Hilsum (59) and Friend, which provided the foundation for an exciting finish.

Friend, back on Island soil after spending the past two seasons playing in the ECB Birmingham & District Premier League, hit a six and seven fours in an accomplished debut SPL century.

But his dismissal at 235-4 proved a crucial turning point.

Neil Westhorpe (35 not out) kept the pot boiling but, with eight an over still the asking rate, Richard Taylor and Jordan Finney bowled two miserly overs to keep things in check.

Finney fired a successful number of ‘darts’ into the batsman’s crease in a highly effective last over, finishing with a creditable 2-49, as Ventnor finished a gallant 11 runs short at 266-5.