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| Dominic O'Connor top-scored with 61. Picture: www.sportsshots.org.uk |
O'Connor made 61 at the top of the order off 119 balls with 11 fours, but only two other batsmen reached double figures as Horspath were shot out for 129 after being inserted. Jacob Heath (4-30) was the chief destroyer for Cropredy, while Patrick Somerton, James Coleman and Edward Somerton picked up two wickets apiece.
It didn't appear a challenging total, but Horspath's bowlers rose to the occasion to stun the unbeaten pacesetters. Andy Cummings and Liam Manley set the tone with a wicket apiece in tight opening spells, before Jason Cardy (2-37) helped reduce Cropredy to 46-4.
Things looked ominous for Horspath when Josh Maynard and Harry Walters added 45 for the fifth wicket. But young spinners Alfie Turner (4-32) and Luke Heritage (2-17) combined to turn the game Horspath's way by bowling superbly to spark a dramatic late-order collapse.
Cropredy still looked the most likely winners at 120-7, but the last three wickets fell for just five runs as the visitors crashed to 125 all out. The exciting win moves Horspath off the foot of the table.
Opener Alex Thomas hit 70 for Horspath 3rd, but it wasn't enough to prevent a six-wicket defeat at home to second-placed Tiddington 2nd in Division 4.
Thomas's runs came off 129 balls with nine fours as Horspath were bowled out for 160 after being put in to bat. The hosts slumped to 39-5, before Thomas shared a stand of 62 for the sixth wicket with Dan Jones (21). Charlie Turner (23) provided late resistance, but Horspath were swept away by Ellie Noble, who took 5-20 from 10.1 overs.
Stuart Berry lifted Horspath's hopes by reducing Tiddington to 29-3, but Noble (30) led the fightback, before Jordon Davis (85no) and Jacob Davis (28no) saw the visitors home at 161-4. Berry finished with 3-27, while Josh Richardson bowled tidily to pick up 1-51 off 16 overs.
Posted by: Russ