Horspath's challenge in Plate ends with semi-final defeat

HORSPATH came off second best in their Home Counties Premier League's John Goodman Plate semi-final at Thame Town with a 40-run defeat.

Dwadesh Sehgal hit a
classy 71 for Horspath

The visitors found themselves up against it from the start with some wayward bowling helping Thame get off to a flier after they elected to bat. Home captain Michael Beard and Olliver Ebsworth-Burland shared an opening stand of 137 - one short of Thame's record first-wicket partnership of 138 set by Manoj Parmar (75) and Chris Wynd (55) against Finchampstead in 2008.

However, the Thame openers' task was made easier by a plethora of wides with Horspath conceding 30 in total. A run out ended their stand with Ebsworth-Burland falling for 62, but Horspath, whose attack was depleted by paceman Angus Livingstone only being able to bowl one over due to injury, then fought back well with skipper Lloyd Belcher trapping Beard lbw for 55.

The Horspath captain went on to take 3-41 from his eight overs - including Shahbaz Meer for 26 - as Thame posted a challenging 216-8. Max Smith bowled well to pick up 2-32, while Graham Beer (2-51) was the visitors' other wicket-taker.

Opener Tom Coleman, who hit a century as Horspath records tumbled in the win at Church Meadow five weeks earlier, again shaped up well before being dismissed for 28. Dwadesh Sehgal kept the visitors' hopes alive with a classy 71, which included some cracking cover drives, but after he fell to Kelvin Burrows (3-43), Horspath's innings petered out as they were bowled out for 176. Burrows was well supported by Hassam Mushtaq (2-32) and Will Rooney (2-21).

Posted by: Russ