HORSPATH 2nd suffered an almighty collapse to crash to a 70-run defeat at home to Aston Rowant 2nd in Cherwell League Division 1.
Having restricted the visitors to 209-9, Horspath started brightly in reply with Jamie Stead and Kit Cutter putting on 62 for the first wicket. But after they were parted the last nine wickets went down for 55 runs with the hosts being bowled out for 139.
Stead made 50 off 69 balls with nine fours, before off-spinner Richard Cook (5-32) repeated his Village Cup heroics from Rowant's victory earlier in the season, while Ben Knowler chipped in with 3-7. Earlier, Horspath had pegged the visitors back after Chris Eaton (55) and Tim Morgan (51) put on 116 for the first wicket, with Andy Cummings taking 3-26 and two wickets apiece for Mark Skelton and Tom King.
Horspath 3rd also suffered their first defeat of the season with a four-wicket loss at home to Didcot 2nd in Division 5. Chris Jones (36) and Matthew Turner-Wilson (34no) provided the main resistance as Horspath were bowled out for 157 off just 36.1 overs as Alex Rodman (4-63), Kunal Patel (3-25) and Kieran Beesley (3-36) shared the wickets. Horspath made Didcot battle for the runs, but they finally got home at 163-6 in the 59th over with Patel making an unbeaten 48 and Luke Higgins a patient 29 not out. Stuart Berry took 2-14 off 11 overs, while Tyrone Eyles picked up 2-38.
Horspath 4th stay third in Division 7 after a 38-run win away to ten-man Long Marston 3rd. Ryan Hicks top-scored with an unbeaten 42 and David Wells weighed in with 32 as Horspath posted 145-8, Martin Keable taking 3-29. Trevor Spindler (3-16) then made the early inroads into the Marston batting, before Adeel Rehman (4-17) polished off the tail with the home side 107 all out, despite the efforts of Martin Beale (44no).
Posted by: Russ