OPENERS Tom Beresford and Dom O'Connor hammered half-centuries to set Horspath 2nd on the way to an emphatic eight-wicket win at bottom club Sandford St Martin in Cherwell League Division 2.
Having restricted Sandford to 198-8 after putting them in to bat, Horspath eased to victory with Beresford making 74 from 75 balls, which included two sixes and 12 fours, while O'Connor compiled a run-a-ball 57 with 11 boundaries. The pair put on 140 for the first wicket, before Jamie Stead cracked an unbeaten 43 to seal victory at 200-2.
Earlier, Sandford had been held in check by an accurate Horspath attack spearheaded by Tyrone Eyles (2-34) and Andy Cummings (2-35). They reduced the hosts to 38-3, and although Mark Robey (72) and Oliver Ong (40) led a Sandford fightback, Alfie Turner (2-36) and James Stacey (2-37) made sure they were never able to cut loose. The victory shoots Horspath up to fourth place.
Nigel Coltman hit an unbeaten 90 to set Horspath 3rd on the way to a convincing 63-run victory at Leighton Buzzard 2nd in Division 5. Coltman hit a six and 12 fours in his superb 120-ball knock to steer Horspath to 208-8 after they had elected to bat. He received good support from Alex Thomas (43), while Sam Roberts took 3-43 for Buzzard.
Horspath then bowled the hosts out for 145, with the wickets shared between Swapnil Kulkarni (2-26), Stuart Berry (2-28), Ed Oakley (2-29), Hayden Moon (2-47) and skipper Robin Pykett (1-8). Opener James Raine made 50 for Buzzard, but Mark Burfoot (26) was the only other batsman to show any resistance. The win moves Horspath up to fourth.
Horspath 4th's young guns shone in a six-wicket home win over third-placed Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 2nd in Division 7. Off-spinner Luke Heritage (4-30) and leg-spinner Josh Richardson (3-28) sent Nondescripts tumbling to 140 all out after the visitors were put in to bat. There was also a wicket apiece for Charlie Turner, Ryan Hicks and Ceri Holmes, while Andy Haynes (29) top-scored for the visitors.
Horspath lost early wickets to Rashique Ahmed (2-29) and Tariq Mirza (2-34) before Faizaan Abbas (42no) and Hicks (41no) saw the hosts home at 143-4. Horspath now stand in fifth place.
Posted by: Russ