HORSPATH slipped to an agonising one-wicket defeat in the Cricketer Village Cup second round as Cumnor's last pair put on 42 to snatch a dramatic victory.
Having posted 217 all out off their 40 overs, Horspath looked to be in control as the hosts were reduced to 177-9. But then Joe Clapton (38no) and Sam Herbert (14no) combined to stun the visitors. Needing eight to win off the last over, they picked up three singles before Herbert hit a six off the fourth delivery to see Cumnor home at 219-9.
Horspath looked to have the upper hand earlier in Cumnor's innings with Hayden Moon (2-21) among the wickets, but Sam Cross (63) kept the hosts' hopes alive before he fell to Shahbaz Ali.
Jehan Mohammed (3-23) and Adrian Manger (2-46) kept Horspath on top as Tom Powell (27) chipped in with valuable runs, before Clapton and Herbert's last-wicket heroics. Earlier, Stephen Green (52no) top-scored for Horspath, with Mohammed making 45 as Cross took 3-25.
Horspath also bowed out of the Royal London Club Championship with a 113-run defeat at last year's runners-up Stanmore in the second round.
The hosts rattled up 242-4 off their 40 overs after electing to bat as the Horspath attack struggled to make inroads. Talha Azam (57) and Steven Reingold (37) put on 83 for the first wicket, before the rest of the innings was built round Riley Holly (66no). Ahmad Elech (34) and Guy Harper (33) kept up the run rate, while there was a wicket apiece for Jay Parmar, Lloyd Belcher, Liam Manley and Asad Rafiq.
Horspath's run chase never really got going as they collapsed to 129 all out, despite 43 from Will Hawtin. Tushaar Karia (3-24) led the way for Stanmore as the wickets were shared around.
Posted by: Russ