Horspath clinch Hartwell Cup Final spot in last-over thriller

HORSPATH kept their cool on the UK's hottest day on record to clinch a nail-biting six-wicket win at Challow & Childrey and a place in the Hartwell Senior Cup Final at Wormsley on September 17.

Going into their last Pool 2 game, Patrick Foster's side knew they had to complete a perfect record of four wins out of four to be sure of top spot - and they duly delivered.

Jimmy Phillips hit a classy half-century.
Pictures: Rob Judges

But their passage to Oxfordshire T20 Finals Day didn't come without a scare as they were taken to the wire by the hosts before emerging victorious in another last-over thriller.

Chasing Challow's 137-5 after the home side had chosen to bat, Horspath appeared to be coasting to victory as Jimmy Phillips (55) and Will Hawtin (25) shared an opening partnership of 69 inside 10 overs.

However, after they were parted the visitors faltered and it took some powerful straight hitting from Imraan Manack (33no) to get them over the line at 140-4 with a ball to spare.

The hosts embraced T20's spirit with boundaries and wickets greeted with musical accompaniment.

Among the tunes that blared out from the pavilion was Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys Are Back In Town' - and Challow old boy Phillips, playing his first competitive game back at his former club, was certainly enjoying being back in town as he set about knocking off the runs.

Unleashing a series of superb cover drives from the green oasis of Challow's square into the straw-coloured desert of an outfield, the left-handed opener added to scores of 47 and 42 in the competition with a classy half-century.

Hawtin, meanwhile, provided excellent support, striking the ball cleanly, including one cracking square cut for four, before he was stumped off Alex Dawson, who hauled Challow back into the game with fine figures of 2-16 off four overs.

Charlie Turner returned figures of 3-26

Phillips, who hit seven fours, went to his fifty with a single down to long off only to be run out shortly afterwards, and with Horspath stumbling to 105-4 in the 17th over, the hosts suddenly sensed they had a chance.

The visitors required 24 off the last two overs, and Manack settled Horspath's nerves with a huge six down to the road end, before Jehan Mohammed's exquisite scoop shot for four saw 10 needed off the final over.

Manack survived a low chance at long on off the first ball while running two, and then smashed the next delivery to the extra cover boundary.

The South African all-rounder was in full flow and picked up two more runs off the fourth ball, before sealing victory in style by hammering the penultimate delivery for four past the sightscreen to see Horspath home to the cheers of their good band of travelling supporters.

Earlier, Horspath had done well to hold the home side to what looked a below-par score on a lightning-fast outfield.

Charlie Turner produced a fine opening spell, before returning to bowl the last over, shattering the stumps with successive deliveries to finish with 3-26.

Manack and Choudhary picked up a wicket apiece with their off-spin, while Lloyd Belcher bowled tidily to concede just 21 runs from his four overs without reward.

Opener Joe Harris hit a bold 41, sharing a second-wicket stand of 50 with Tommie Rees (22), before Olly Dunn (32no) and Jack Pearce (25) took Challow to their final total with the latter's knock including a six, which peppered the scorebox.

Now Horspath await the winners of Pool 1 in the final. Holders Banbury are favourites to top the group after winning their opening three games. They complete their fixtures with a home match against Cumnor on Tuesday.

Posted by: Russ

Belcher stars as Horspath battle back for a draw

LLOYD Belcher produced a man-of-the-match performance with an unbeaten 48 and 4-41 as Horspath fought back to earn a draw at home to second-placed Wargrave in Home Counties Premier League Division 2.

The former captain dug in once again after Horspath's top-order tribulations continued with the side collapsing to 109-8 following the visitors' decision to field.

Lloyd Belcher shone with
an unbeaten 48 and 4-41

Reprising his role of a week earlier when he came to the rescue with 43 in support of Will Hawtin in an eighth-wicket stand of 95 against Oxford Downs, Belcher again improved on his highest Home Counties score, falling just short of a maiden half-century at the close.

Acting skipper Will Eason this time provided the ideal foil as the pair put on a Home Counties club record of 75 for the ninth wicket to steer Horspath from the depths of despair to a competitive 207-9. 

Their superb effort comfortably exceeded the previous best of 56, which they had posted at home to Wokingham in the final game of last season with Eason making an unbeaten 34 and Belcher 27.

Eason was the more fluent of the duo, hitting seven fours in his 43 before he was caught in the deep by Faaez Shamsi off Rhys Lewis to make it 184-9.

Belcher again showed his batting skills are often underestimated by remaining undefeated while adding handy runs for the last wicket with Justin Clarke to take Horspath past the 200-mark. His runs came off 101 balls and included five fours.

Earlier, several of the top order had got in without going on to make a score of any substance with only Imraan Manack (25) holding up Wargrave before a leading edge proved his downfall when he was caught and bowled by Toby Greatwood (2-39).

The Oxford MCCU seamer was well supported by off-spinner Euan Woods with 2-35 from 18 overs and Oliver Winterbottom (2-36), who triggered Horspath's collapse.

Buoyed by their fightback, Horspath were lifted further with Clarke and Eason removing openers Jack Winterbottom and Shamsi respectively courtesy of a brace of catches by wicketkeeper Hawtin as Wargrave slumped to 23-2.

Left-arm spinner Belcher then got to work with the ball, trapping the dangerous Woods lbw for 25 to make it 52-3.

But Horspath were frustrated by Lewis and Greatwood, who shared a stand of 60 for the fourth wicket before the former was caught by Rob Wight at point off Jehan Mohammed for 44.

Off-spinner Saqlain Choudhary then combined with Belcher to chip away at the rest of the order with the pair taking a wicket apiece to make it 146-6.

Greatwood was scoring freely, though, and reached his half-century, before Belcher struck twice more to leave Wargrave 158-8 and boost the home side's hopes of victory.

However, Greatwood found a willing partner in Oliver Winterbottom, who made 16 before being caught by Clarke off Choudhary to make it 191-9.

Horspath had 2.1 overs at Wargrave's last pair, but they stood firm as the fielders crowded around the bat to share the spoils. Greatwood finished unbeaten on 73 from 99 balls with five fours and three sixes with the visitors closing on 195-9.

 

Belcher's four-wicket haul came off 14 overs, while Choudhary picked up 2-66 from 16 overs and there was a wicket apiece for Eason, Clarke and Mohammed.

Scorecard

Despite emerging with 15 points from the draw, Horspath drop two places to seventh in a congested mid-table ahead of next Saturday's trip to Thame Town.

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Horspath 2nd go top with Ahmed and Du Toit on song

HORSPATH 2nd stormed to the top of Cherwell League Division 2 with a thumping 226-run victory at Sandford St Martin.

The visitors racked up a massive 312-4 after being put in to bat before seamer Erasmus Du Toit claimed a five-wicket haul to send Sandford crashing to 86 all out.

Division 2
leaders

Horspath's top four all hit half-centuries with Shiryar Ahmed leading the run spree with 90 from 78 balls, which included 11 fours and a six.

He shared in a second-wicket stand of 91 with Joey Todd, who completed back-to-back half-centuries with 88 off 116 deliveries with 14 fours and a six.

Todd had earlier put on 97 for the first wicket with Tejas Anand, who took his chance after being promoted from the 3rd XI following successive tons, with 55. He hit 10 fours in his 64-ball knock.#

Stand-in skipper Robbie Eason ensured there was no let-up for the Sandford bowlers by smashing an unbeaten 63 from 54 deliveries with four boundaries and two sixes as he shared a stand of 96 for the third wicket with Ahmed.

Sandford were then blown away by Du Toit (5-14) and Subhan Javaid (3-32) with Todd completing a good day with four catches behind the stumps.

It was left to Charlie Turner (2-13) to wrap up the victory in style by shattering the stumps of Sandford's last pair.

Scorecard

The stunning victory not only saw Horspath roar to the summit, but also open up a healthy 13-point lead over previous leaders Challow & Childrey, who visit the Recreation Ground this Saturday.

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Gibbs keeps up fine form in Horspath 3rd's run spree

JOE Gibbs hit a Cherwell League-best of 87 as Horspath 3rd's batsmen made hay in the sun to record a resounding 131-run win at home to Westcott in Division 3A.

Gibbs, who posted his maiden league half-century with an unbeaten 53 against Great Brickhill 2nd a week ago, continued his good form to take Horspath to a huge 322-9 after they had been put in to bat.

Joe Gibbs hammered 87

His 92-ball knock in the middle order, which included nine fours and a six, came after opener Dan Todd set the tone with nine boundaries in his 57 from 70 deliveries.

Dougal Main (45), Alex Jackson (33) and Alfie Turner (29) also made their mark as Ian Hedley (3-82) and skipper Mark Strong (3-86) struggled to stem the flow of runs.

Having posted the second-highest score of the day, Horspath were always in control with the ball and bowled Westcott out for 191.

Turner (3-33) was the most successful wicket-taker well supported by Ed Oakley, whose 2-31 came off 13 overs, Sameer Hashimi (2-19) and Jackson (2-52). Strong made 51, but the visitors were never in the hunt.

Scorecard

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Hotshot Hamilton rolls back the years with half-century

OPENER Gareth Hamilton rolled back the years with a half-century in Horspath 4th's six-wicket defeat at Radley in Cherwell League Division 5C.

Hamilton made 51 as the visitors were bowled out for 138 after electing to bat, with Malik Sagher Salim (5-25) the chief destroyer.

Gareth Hamilton hit 51

It was his first half-century since he struck an unbeaten 75 against Brackley 2nd in 2015.

Radley opener Ashley Pike then made 38, before Muzammil Rehman (37no) and Peter Norris (35no) saw the hosts home at 142-4 despite the efforts of Adrian Manger, who took 2-33 from 10 overs.

Scorecard

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