Jehan and Asad shine in Horspath 2nd's victory

HORSPATH 2nd got their Cherwell League Tier 2B campaign off to a winning start with a five-wicket victory at Great Brickhill 2nd.

Jehan Mohammed hit 52

Chasing Brickhill's 178-8 after the hosts elected to bat, Horspath picked up maximum points with Jehan Mohammed (52) and Asad Rafiq (46) starring as victory was secured on 179-5 with seven overs to spare. Earlier, Rhys Nicholas (38) was the only Brickhill batsman to make any impact with the wickets shared around.

Young opener Chris Batten hit an unbeaten 68 to steer Horspath 3rd to a seven-wicket win at Eynsham in Tier 3A.

His superb knock saw Horspath home at 133-3 with six overs in hand after an excellent display in the field had restricted the hosts to 132-7. Skipper Andy Cummings opened the bowling with his son, Josh, after putting the home side in to bat, and the pair combined to keep things tight early on. Ryan Hicks, with 1-15 from his eight overs, and Joe Gibbs (1-23) maintained Horspath's grip, before Adrian Manger (2-40) and Jason Cardy (1-27) chipped in.

Captain Jamie Stead returned career-best figures of 5-31 and then hit an unbeaten half-century in Horspath 4th's eight-wicket win at home to Stokenchurch 2nd in Tier 5A.

Stead's off-spin proved pivotal as Stokenchurch subsided to 143 all out after electing to bat, with good support from Christopher Hofen (3-11), despite the efforts of Leigh Reason (50) and Gary Murton (35). Young Hadi Ali then impressed with an unbeaten 64 and Stead made 50 not out to take Horspath to victory at 144-2.

Posted by: Russ