HORSPATH fell at the first hurdle in The Cricketer Village Cup with a six-wicket defeat at Cookham Dean.
Placed in the Berkshire group with the Oxfordshire section oversubscribed, Horspath, who fielded just three of the side which lined up at Aston Rowant the previous day, were put in to bat on a tricky pitch and collapsed to 104 all out. Their total was boosted by 41 extras - including 35 wides - as spinner Yasir Qureshi took 4-18.
Horspath made Cookham Dean fight for the runs, though, with an impressive bowling display. Openers Patrick Castleden and Ben Millar kept Horspath at bay with 61 for the first wicket, before the hosts lost four wickets for just nine runs to Alfie Turner (2-18) and skipper Lloyd Belcher (2-14), whose figures both came off eight overs. However, they were unable to remove Castleden, who hit an unbeaten 50 off 107 balls, with two fours and a six, to see the hosts home at 107-4 from 35 overs.
Horspath are back in action on Tuesday with a home game against Thame Town in the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup (6pm).
Posted by: Russ