New signings bid to help Horspath lay Banbury bogey

HORSPATH give debuts to three new signings as they attempt to lay their Banbury bogey to rest when the Home Counties Premier League season finally gets under way at the Recreation Ground tomorrow.

Indian batsman Dwadesh Sehgal, a product of the West Delhi Academy and a member of the Oxford MCCU squad, comes into the side along with Zimbabwean batsman Pete Ades, a St Edward's School pupil, and seamer Max Smith, who has joined from Tiddington.

Harrison Ward back for Horspath

There are also returning debuts for batsman Harrison Ward, back at the club after playing for Preston Nomads in the Sussex League, and left-arm seamer Graham Beer, now in his third spell at Horspath and set for a swift reunion with Banbury after spending the last two seasons at White Post Road. Swapping clubs with Beer is fellow left-arm seamer Liam Manley, who has rejoined Banbury and is set to face his old teammates.

With Horspath relegated from Division 1 last season they weren't expecting to be renewing rivalry so soon with Banbury, won have won seven of the eight top-flight meetings between the sides with the other encounter drawn.

However, with cricket being suspended by the ECB due to the coronavirus pandemic and Divisions 1 and 2 being amalgamated for the resumption, it gives Horspath, with new captain Lloyd Belcher taking charge for the first time, an unexpected chance to end their Banbury hoodoo. The match, which starts at 12.30pm, will be 40-overs-a-side played with a pink ball.

LINE-UPS

Horspath: O'Connor, Ades, Ward, Sehgal, Green, Hawtin, W Eason, Smith, Beer, Belcher (capt), Heritage.
Banbury: White, Burton, Sabin (capt), Clarke, Phillips, Hill, Rana, Whiteley, Wright, Thomas, Manley.

Posted by: Russ