Horspath's defeat by Downs developed into a curious affair with the hosts focusing on securing the bonus points required to make the play-offs rather than chase the visitors' 208-9 after being reduced to 30-3 by left-arm seamer Lawrence Brock (3-31).
In the knowledge that seven points would see them finish in the top eight - and with five bowling points already in the bag - Horspath's attention turned to reaching 125 and two batting points. Will Eason (29no), supported by Dwadesh Sehgal and Will Hawtin with 26 apiece, ensured the home side achieved their aim, closing on 139-7 despite off-spinner Tom Cosford taking 3-20 against his old club.
Eason had earlier plunged fourth-placed Downs into trouble by gaining two lbw decisions to make it 2-2 after the visitors chose to bat. But Cosford hit 70 off 74 balls with nine fours and four sixes to repair the damage in a third-wicket stand of 110 with opener Freddie Smith (35).
The big-hitting all-rounder eventually fell to Max Smith with Alfie Turner taking the catch at mid-off, and with Downs then slumping to 126-5 the home side sensed an opportunity. However, Downs captain Tom Costley (27) and Matt Warner added 51 for the sixth wicket, before Frankie Crouch smashed three sixes in an unbeaten 28 off 15 balls to take the visitors to their final total.
Off-spinner Turner stuck to his task well to take 4-49, while Eason (2-30), Smith (1-12), Belcher (1-32) and Harrison Ward (1-44) were the other wicket-takers.
Gaining an eighth-place finish represented a solid campaign for Horspath after they recovered from a slow start, which had seen them at the foot of the table in the opening weeks. And it sets up a semi-final double-header next weekend with Saturday's trip to Thame Town followed by the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup encounter away to Banbury on Sunday.
JOHN GOODMAN PLATE SEMI-FINALS
Sat, Sept 12: Thame Town v Horspath, Henley v Aston Rowant.
BERNARD TOLLETT OXFORDSHIRE CUP SEMI-FINALS
Sun, Sept 13: Banbury v Horspath, Oxford v Oxford Downs.Posted by: Russ