Kulkarni cracks half-century in Horspath 2nd win

Swapnil Kulkarni hit 61

SWAPNIL Kulkarni smashed a superb half-century as Horspath 2nd toppled the Cherwell League Division 2 leaders for the second week running by posting a two-wicket home win over Banbury 2nd.

After knocking pacesetters Bicester & North Oxford off their perch with a 34-run victory last week, Horspath followed up by bowling out Banbury for 176 after the visitors elected to bat. Andy Cummings (1-37) and Jason Cardy (2-34) reduced Banbury to 32-3, before skipper Justin Lambden and Dave Eaton staged a fightback.

Kulkarni (1-35) removed Lambden for 28 and Alfie Turner (2-26) took the key wickets of Eaton (66) and Richard Simpson (38), while Mark Skelton (4-39) polished off the tail.

Kulkarni, who made 51 in the win over Bicester, this time blasted 61 off 49 balls with six fours and five sixes to set Horspath on their way as Eaton (5-33) took the first five wickets to fall. The game remained in the balance until ninth-wicket pair Alex Thomas (18no) and Cardy (10no) shared an unbroken stand of 24 to see the hosts home at 177-8.

Horspath 3rd claimed a share of the spoils in a battling draw at Kimble in Division 4.

Ateeq Ahmed hit a brilliant 134 to take Kimble to 265-8 after they had been put in to bat with Raza Shah (44) and Jack Foster (38) providing good support as Adrian Manger (4-88) and Ceri Holmes (3-58) led the way with the ball for the visitors.

Josh Richardson (43) top-scored in Horspath's reply, before Dan Todd (37no) and Fred Wilkinson (34no) shared an unbroken seventh-wicket stand to take the visitors to 203-6 at the close.

Horspath 4th suffered a six-wicket defeat at home to Oxford Downs 3rd in Division 7.

Adam Thompson (33) was the only batsman to make any impact as the hosts were bowled out for 126 after being inserted, with Mukesh Mohanan taking 4-6. Downs then coasted to victory at 130-4 with Toby Collins 47 and Andrew Russell (34no) to the fore.

Posted by: Russ