Todd hammers half-century as Horspath 3rd get off to flier

RAIN put a damper on the opening day of the Home Counties Premier League with Horspath's Division 2 encounter at home to Oxford Downs washed out with a ball being bowled. 

The 2nd XI suffered the same fate at Oxford Downs 2nd in Cherwell League Division 2, but the 3rd and 4th XIs beat the bad weather and their Oxenford opponents to post victories.

Two wins

Dan Todd hit a half-century to help Horspath 3rd to a five-wicket win at home to Oxenford in Division 4A. Chasing the visitors' 188 all out after putting them in to bat, Horspath eased home at 190-5 with Todd making 53 and Dan Jones unbeaten on 36. 

Earlier, experienced seamers Ed Oakley (3-22) and Andy Cummings (3-25) led the way with the ball for Horspath as Amer Ali fell agonisingly short of a century, making 99 before he was run out. 

Horspath 4th, meanwhile, bowled Oxenford 2nd out for 99 to set up a five-wicket win in Division 6B at Jesus College Sports Ground. 

The two wins see the Horspath sides steal an early march on many of their rivals, whose games fell victim to the rain.

Posted by: Russ