Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Horspath hit back to claim Oxfordshire Cup victory

HORSPATH fought back in terrific fashion to secure an 11-run win at home to Thame Town in their opening Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup group game.
The county's senior Twenty20 competitions

Defending 133-4 after electing to bat in the 18 overs-a-side contest with Dwadesh Sehgal hitting an unbeaten 52, Horspath looked up against it as Will Sutcliffe blasted 63 to take Thame to 101-1.

But then Horspath skipper Lloyd Belcher enticed his Thame counterpart, who had smashed four boundaries and five sixes during his 44-ball stay, into attempting another big hit off the last delivery of the 14th over, and he only succeeded in slicing a catch to Stephen Green at point.

Horspath sensed their opportunity as Angus Livingstone, bowling with good pace, conceded just two runs in the 16th over to leave Thame requiring 23 to win off the final two overs. Off-spinner Alfie Turner picked up two wickets with consecutive deliveries at the start of the next over with Sehgal taking an excellent low catch on the boundary in front of the scout hut to remove Callum Russell for 23, before Hassam Mushtaq was caught behind.

Thame added nine runs from Turner's last four deliveries leaving them needing 14 to win off the last over, and Harrison Ward made sure there was no way back for the visitors. The off-spinner bowled Chris Jeffcock and Rafe Dickie while conceding two runs, before Tom Bamford was run out off the last delivery with Thame falling short on 122-7.

Belcher, who was recording his first win since taking over the captaincy this season, again bowled superbly to finish with 2-10 from his four overs. Ward (2-30) and Turner (2-36) were the other wicket-takers backed up by Livingstone and Josh Richardson.

Earlier, Sehgal had shone in Horspath's innings with his runs coming from 41 balls as he completed his half-century with his eighth boundary - a four through mid-wicket - off the final delivery of the innings. He received good support from Tom Coleman, who hit a run-a-ball 27 in a third-wicket stand of 69, with Mike Higgs, who conceded 1-13 from his four overs, the pick of the Thame attack.

Horspath bid to make it two out of two in the competition when they visit MP Sports Academy at Kingsey Road, Thame on Thursday, August 6. Postcode: OX9 3JL.

Posted by: Russ