RYAN Hicks and Ross Handley shared an unbroken tenth-wicket stand of 67 to earn Horspath 2nd a draw at home to Buckingham Town 2nd in Cherwell League Division 2.
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| Jason Cardy took 5-75 |
But they then proceeded to hold Buckingham at bay and steer Horspath to safety at 214-9. Hicks completed a fine half-century during their partnership, finishing unbeaten on 63 from 56 balls with 14 fours, while Handley was 25 not out at the close.
Opener Dom O'Connor had earlier made 51 from 84 deliveries with ten fours, while Greg Liebenberg took 5-44 for Buckingham, which included a hat-trick.
Cardy had starred with the ball for Horspath, taking 5-75 from 17 overs, while opener Mustafa Syed and Ryan Bell made 68 apiece for the visitors. Erasmus Du Toit (2-18) and Josh Richardson (2-80) also picked up wickets for the hosts.
It was a similar story as Horspath 3rd drew at home to bottom club Garsington and Cowley in Division 4A with last pair Jamie Stead (70no) and Andy Cummings (15no) steering the leaders to safety at 214-9.
Garsington had earlier posted 271 all out after being put in to bat with Majid Khan hitting a superb 144 off 75 balls as Hayden Moon took 4-46 and Cummings 3-49.
Saif Dogar made 32 and Arsalan Khattak 29 in Horspath's reply, but with Muaz taking 4-43 things looked bleak for the home side. However, skipper Stead and Cummings stood firm to deny the visitors and preserve their side's unbeaten record.
Horspath 4th slipped to a five-wicket defeat at Witney Mills 2nd in Division 6B.
Nigel Coltman (41) and Hadi Ali (22) shared an opening stand of 40. But then wickets fell regularly to Chaminda Wimalarathna (4-38) and Richard Tilley (3-27), and it was only a late flurry from Paul Hicks (33) that took Horspath to 135 all out.
That never looked like being enough and although Stuart Berry and Josh Cummings took two wickets apiece, the home side secured victory at 136-5 with Wimalarathna unbeaten on 35.
Posted by: Russ