Heritage's spell helps Horspath get off to Oxfordshire Cup flier

TEENAGE off-spinner Luke Heritage returned impressive figures of 4-14 as Horspath launched their Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup campaign with a 40-run victory at home to East Oxford in Pool 3. 

Luke Heritage shone with the ball

Defending 160-4 after electing to bat in the T20 clash, Horspath's hopes hung in the balance as the visitors reached 111-5 with five overs left after opener Asif Shah hammered 51 off 37 balls with six fours and two sixes. 

With some lusty hitting, Mursaleen Sadiqi was threatening to carry on where Shah left off, but then Heritage struck twice in his second over to turn the game firmly in the home side's favour. 

Skipper Lloyd Belcher picked up a wicket to add to East Oxford's woe before Heritage polished the visitors off by claiming two more victims in his third over. 

With their last five wickets going down for just nine runs, East Oxford were all out for 120 with Sadiqi stranded on 26 not out from 21 balls. Anupam Sanklecha took 2-11, while Josh Richardson's 2-31 included Shah's wicket. 

Earlier, Tyrone Eyles blasted an unbeaten 43 off 21 balls for Horspath with two fours and three sixes. He shared a fourth-wicket stand of 74 with Stephen Green (35) after Elliot Ruff had cracked 39. Sadiqi (2-25) was the pick of the East Oxford attack.

Posted by: Russ