O'Connor's excellent knock in vain for Horspath 2nd

DOMINIC O'Connor's fine 82 proved in vain as Horspath 2nd suffered a seven-wicket defeat at Leighton Buzzard Town in Cherwell League Tier 2B.

Dominic O'Connor hit 82

The left-handed opener, whose runs came off 114 balls, put on 53 for the first wicket with captain Robbie Eason after the visitors had elected to bat. But Horspath found it hard going against the Buzzard bowling, and it was only new recruit Rob Wight's quickfire unbeaten 29 from 12 deliveries which took them to 187-7.

Horspath's attack then struggled to make an impact as Jack Kempster, with a hard-hit 86, and Antony Francis (46) shared a first-wicket stand of 147. Adeel Rehman, Jehan Mohammed and Charlie Turner took a wicket apiece, but it couldn't stop Buzzard coasting home at 188-3 with eight overs to spare.

Horspath 3rd slipped to a four-wicket defeat at Charlbury in a fluctuating Tier 3A encounter.

The visitors, with Luke Heritage (40) top-scoring, were restricted to 161-6 after being put in to bat on a pitch which offered the home bowlers some assistance early on.

Josh Cummings (3-26) and Sam Pace (2-27) then reduced Charlbury to 23-5 only for Barry Nutt to blast 70 with five fours and six sixes before bowled by Joe Gibbs. He shared a sixth-wicket stand of 131 with Tom Eaton 41 not out, who saw the hosts home at 163-6 from 25.5 overs.

Skipper Jamie Stead hit an unbeaten 98 to steer Horspath 4th to an eight-wicket win at Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 2nd in Tier 5A.

Chasing Nondies' 180 all out after the hosts chose to bat, Horspath eased home with Stead well supported by Jonty Hedges (55) as the visitors clinched victory on 184-2.

Ed Oakley (3-24) and Christopher Hofen (3-33) had led the way with the ball for Horspath, while there was a wicket apiece for Stead, Hadi Ali, Reyaan Dogar and Shreyas Anand. Tariq Mirza (31no) and Mohammed Saleem (30) provided Nondies main resistance with the bat.

Posted by: Russ