HORSPATH'S dreams of a run in the Davidstow Village Cup were shattered with a 21-run defeat at home to Aston Rowant in the second round. Having done well to restrict Rowant to 174-9 off 40 overs after putting them in to bat, Horspath then slumped to 153 all out.
The visitors looked as if they were on course to post a much bigger total after reaching 125-2 with 11 overs left, but four wickets then fell for the addition of four runs. Jamil Faruq ran out Chris Watling (35) with a direct hit, and a run later left-arm spinner Lloyd Belcher trapped Tim Morgan lbw for 56. The Rowant opener's runs came off 81 balls with six fours and a six. Joey Todd's smart legside stumping off a Jehan Mohammad wide accounted for Richard Cook, and Belcher won another lbw verdict against Adam Muttit.
With the innings in disarray, Rowant were indebted to a crucial unbroken last-wicket stand of 22 between Sasha Barras and Gordon Harris for their final total. Belcher finished with 3-43, while there were two wickets apiece for Adam Price and Mohammad.
However, Horspath's run chase floundered as they struggled to build partnerships. Shahbaz Ali (39) and Stephen Green (31) came closest to turning the game the hosts' way, but both were adjudged lbw to off-spinner Richard Cook, who gained a similar verdict against Price as he finished with 5-50. Muttit chipped in with 3-31 to leave the hosts rueing another missed opportunity in the competition.
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Posted by: Russ