Phillips and Mohammed star in Horspath's Village Cup victory

OPENER Jimmy Phillips and all-rounder Jehan Mohammed starred as Horspath battled to a 37-run victory at home to Langford in the Oxfordshire semi-final of the Voneus Village Cup. 

Horspath stride off at the end. Pictures: Rob Judges

Phillips laid the foundations with an unbeaten 89 from 119 balls, which included six fours and two sixes, to take Horspath to 193-5 off their 40 overs after they were put in to bat. 

He shared a second-wicket stand of 54 with Elliot Ruff (24) and put on 50 for the fourth wicket with Jehan Mohammed, who hit two sixes in a brisk cameo of 25 off 17 balls. Chris Sinsbury picked up 2-29 for the west Oxfordshire visitors, while Francis Bradley conceded just 20 from his eight overs. 

Langford were reduced to 53-3 in reply with opener Jeremy Kirby making 30, but then Aaron Court and skipper Harry Stevens shared a stand of 64 for the fourth wicket to put the Gloucestershire County League Division 2 side firmly in the hunt. 

However, they were stopped in their tracks as Horspath struck two crucial blows in as many balls. Mohammed bowled Stevens for 24 with the last delivery of the 25th over, and with his first ball of the next over Graham Beer shattered Court's stumps. The Langford batsman had made 40 from 36 deliveries with two fours and three sixes. 

Diddy and Horspath's Barmy Army celebrate

Mohammed (3-23) and Sulaiman Hussain (3-15) then worked their way through the rest of the order as Langford were bowled out for 156 with their last seven wickets going down for 39. Asad Rafiq and Beer were the other wicket-takers with 2-31 apiece. 

Now Horspath are at home to Aston Rowant on Sunday, June 6 in their first Oxfordshire final for eight years, with the prize for the winners a place in the national rounds.

Meanwhile, the club's first appearance in the Airey Cup for 30 years proved short-lived with the 3rd XI suffering a resounding defeat by Minster Lovell on the second pitch.

Skipper Jamie Stead (53) was the only Horspath batsman to provide any resistance as the home side slumped to 131 all out, with 26 extras the next best contribution. Ollie Mersh (3-12) led the way for Minster with the wickets were shared around.

Horspath's bowlers were then despatched to all parts of the ground by James Mattinson, who smashed an unbeaten 101 off 62 balls to take Minster to 137-0 off just 14.3 overs.

His whirlwind innings included nine fours and eight sixes, while Mersh finished on 30 not out.

Posted by: Russ