OPENER Alex Thomas hit 74 to help Horspath 2nd secure a draw at home to Bledlow Village in Cherwell League Division 2.
Facing Bledlow's formidable 305-3 dec after the visitors had elected to bat, Horspath were never in the hunt as they replied with 149-8. Thomas showed good application in his 152-ball knock, which contained 13 fours, but he received little support with the exception of 14-year-old Josh Richardson, who made 19, as Will Woodward (6-37) did the damage.
Earlier, Bledlow's batsmen tucked into the Horspath bowling after Tyrone Eyles picked up a wicket with the second ball off the match. But then Harry Bartlett (98) and Olly Woodward (68) shared a stand of 167 for the second wicket, before the pair were both bowled by Asad Rafiq (2-75). However, Will Woodward (77no) and Tom Moore (35no) continued the onslaught with an unbroken stand of 125 for the fourth wicket.
Horspath 3rd slumped to a six-wicket defeat at second-placed Brackley in Division 4.
Having elected to bat, Horspath collapsed to 97-9 with only Dan Jones (29) showing any resistance, before an unbroken tenth-wicket stand of 50 between Ed Oakley (25no) and Stuart Berry (18no) took them to 147-9. Skipper Michael Lowe (5-50) was the chief destroyer for the hosts.
However, it didn't prove enough as Brackley secured victory at 148-4 despite Oakley completing a fine all-round effort by taking the first three wickets for figures of 3-29 from ten overs. Adam Wirth (44) set Brackley on the way before Lowe (37no) finished the job after Michael Cartwright made 30.
Posted by: Russ