Young Josh shines with first five-wicket haul

Josh Richardson took 5-54

YOUNG Josh Richardson claimed his first Cherwell League five-wicket haul as hosts Horspath 3rd had to settle for a draw after being denied by Long Marston 2nd's last pair in Division 4.

Having posted 181-9 after being put in to bat, Horspath reduced Long Marston to 118-9 with 14-year-old Richardson taking 5-54. The home side had been in trouble themselves at 55-5 when Dan Todd (41) and Faizaan Abbas (39no) came together to put on 60 for the sixth wicket.

Charlie Turner (29) then added 52 for the seventh wicket with Abbas to boost Horspath's total as Lee Beesley (3-26) and Simon McLeman (3-43) led the way for Long Marston.

When the visitors batted, Turner and Stuart Berry took a wicket apiece to make inroads. Richardson, who on the corresponding Saturday last year hit a superb 100 not out for Horspath 4th, then worked his way through the order in an excellent 15-over spell, supported by Adrian Manger (2-9). However, they couldn't dislodge the visitors' last pair of Beesley (15no) and Yogesh Mistry, who survived 43 balls without scoring, to see Long Marston to safety.

A youthful Horspath 4th side went down to an eight-wicket defeat against East Oxford 2nd in Division 7 at the Lincoln College Sports Ground. The visitors were bowled out for 94 after being put in to bat, with only Mike Naylor (33) making any headway, before East Oxford raced to 99-2.

Posted by: Russ