Belcher & Beer play leading roles in Tollett cup victory

Pat Foster

Horspath’s stand in captain Pat Foster led from the front as Horspath secured victory over hosts Aston Rowant in the quarter final of the Bernard Tollett cup.

Rowant won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket made sticky by the earlier rain. Chris Watling ,who carried his bat for 56* [ 3 fours 1 six], was the only batsman to make headway against the Horspath bowling, with Pat Foster recording 1 for 11 off his 4 overs and Lee Mason 1- 18 off 4.

Graham Beer 1-14

However the stand out performances came from 15 year old Graham Beer with 1-14 off 3 and in particular 14 year old left arm spinner Lloyd Belcher, who on his senior debut took the important wickets of Wes Morrick, Karl Penhale and Adam Muttitt  in returning the impressive figures of 3 – 20 in his 4 overs.

The opinion at change of innings was that 107 would be difficult to get. The Dragon opening pair of Robbie Eason and Pat Foster took care against the opening attack of Wes Morrick and Karl Penhale before increasing the tempo of the innings by taking 14 off Penhale’s third over. The stand then blossomed as both batsmen regularly found the boundary .Horspath getting home in 14.3 overs with Pat Foster 55* [6 fours, 1 six ] and Robbie Eason 45* [ 6 fours]

Aston Rowant 106 – 6 Chris Watling 56* Lloyd Belcher 3 – 20
Horspath 107 – 0[14.3 ov] Pat Foster 55* Robbie Eason 45*