Green's half-century sets up friendly win over Finchley

STEPHEN Green hit a fine half-century in Horspath's 21-run home win over Finchley as the season got under way with a series of friendly matches over the weekend.

Stephen Green hit 65 off 89 balls

Green's 65 from 89 deliveries provided the backbone of Horspath's 190-9 in Sunday's 40-over contest with off-spinner Will Leggett picking up 5-24. Finchley then fell for 169 with Will Eason (4-45) wrapping up the innings after Fezur-Hatchett made 47.

Horspath had slipped to a 46-run defeat at home to Oxford on Saturday. 

Mohammad Ayub made 59 and with Harvey Jupp contributing an unbeaten 39 and George Tait 37, Oxford posted 194-5 from 40 overs as Will Eason took 2-9 from eight accurate overs. 

Horspath never threatened the target after losing early wickets, and it was left to the lower order led by Eason (33) to salvage respectability as the hosts were bowled out for 146 with Ollie Southon, who is with Hampshire, taking 3-23. 

Horspath 2nd recorded an exciting one-wicket win at home to Cookham Dean in a last-ball thriller. 

Chasing the visitors' 224-7 off 40 overs, the hosts secured victory with last pair Saif Dogar (20no) and Joe Gibbs securing the five runs required off the last over. Mohson Rana (45) and Tyron Eyles (41) had earlier fired Horspath towards their target as Akash Vasa took 4-41. Rana was completing a fine all-round game after picking up 3-20 in Cookham Dean's innings, with Akhtar (47) top-scoring.

Horspath 3rd's trip to Reading Lions also went down to the last over with the home side triumphing by seven wickets.

The visitors posted 220-9 thanks to a lively last-wicket stand between skipper Jamie Stead (39no) and Shreyas Anand (21no) as Keerthi Prakash took 4-58. Horspath were then unable to dislodge four-wicket pair Shiva Aruna (95no) and Prakash (84no), who steered the hosts to 221-3 with two balls to spare.

Posted by: Russ