Sunday, 25 July 2021

Amin Rafiq and Green hammer half-centuries for Horspath 2nd

AMIN Rafiq and Stephen Green hit half-centuries as Horspath 2nd gained the upper hand in a draw at home to Challow & Childrey in Cherwell League Division 2. 

Rafiq made his first fifty since joining the club recently with 61 off 90 balls, which included six fours and a six, as Horspath racked up 261-9 after electing to bat. 

Stephen Green made 56
Green hammered 56 from 64 deliveries with six fours and three maximums, while Tyrone Eyles weighed in with 44 and Max Smith made 39. Phil Armstrong (3-59) and captain Joe Harris (3-76) were among the wickets for Challow. 

The visitors lost both openers for nought as Asad Rafiq and Charlie Turner reduced them to 5-2. Harris, with 64 from 69 balls, and Shaun Burningham, who made 44 before retiring, set about repairing the damage, but Challow were never in the hunt as they closed on 159-7. 

Amin Rafiq took 2-6 to add to his half-century, while Mohson Rana picked up 2-14 and Asad Rafiq finished with 2-26. 

Horspath 3rd bounced back to winning ways with an exciting two-wicket victory at home to second-placed Bletchley Town in Division 4A. 

Having bowled the visitors out for 136 after putting them in to bat, Horspath edged home at 139-8 with Hayden Moon hitting the first ball of the penultimate over for a straight six. 

Skipper Jamie Stead top-scored with 27, and in a low-scoring encounter there were also handy contributions from Ryan Hicks (26) and Chris Jones (21). Idrees Butt and Zulfiqar Ahmed both took 3-26 for Bletchley. 

Earlier, Moon returned figures of 3-39 in Bletchley's innings, while Tom Smith picked up 2-11 and Andy Cummings 2-46. Tailender Gohar Ayub made 48 to boost Bletchley's total.

Posted by: Russ