Hampshire defeated Leicestershire at the Ageas Bowl to claim the Second XI Championship title this week

Hampshire Second XI emerged triumphant against Leicestershire Second XI at the Ageas Bowl this week to claim the 2019 Second XI County Championship title.

An unbeaten first-innings century from 17-year-old prospect Fletcha Middleton and a second-innings five-wicket haul from Ryan Stevenson helped guide the side to victory, with six wickets in the match for James Fuller and valuable contributions with bat and ball too from Keith Barker (five wickets and 60).

The triumph is Hampshire's first Second XI Championship title since 2001 and sixth overall since the competition began in 1959.

The side, led by Academy graduate Felix Organ, have been rewarded for their success throughout a fantastic campaign during which they finished unbeaten in all four-day matches.

The most dominant performance from the squad during the league phase was undoubtedly their overpowering victory away at Surrey in July, where Felix Organ consolidated some excellent form in the openers slot with a century in the first innings and a gritty 50 in the second, whilst all-rounder Brad Taylor also recorded an excellent hundred.