HORSPATH were shot out for just 35 to crash to a 51-run defeat in an extraordinary encounter at Oxford Downs in Home Counties Premier League Division 2.
The visitors looked as if they were getting back on track following last week's loss at Wokingham when they bowled Downs out for 86 after putting the home side into bat.
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| Lloyd Belcher took 5-21. Photo: sportsshots.org.uk |
But then Horspath collapsed in even more spectacular fashion with seamers Lawrence Brock (5-14) and Matt Warner (5-15) doing the damage.
Rain led to a delayed start with the match reduced to 100 overs, and an indication of what was to follow came with Will Eason removing both Downs openers as the home side slumped to 17-3.
Anupam Sanklecha also took advantage of the bowler-friendly conditions to claim two victims as Downs reached lunch at 65-4 with former Horspath all-rounder Tom Cosford unbeaten on 44 after surviving a tough early chance.
Cosford had added only one more run after the break when Belcher found the edge of his bat and Eason gratefully accepted the chance at slip. But remarkably his fluent 45 was to be the only score in double figures by any batsman all day and ultimately the difference between the two sides
Belcher then swept through the rest of the order with Downs slumping to their lowest total in the league - eclipsing the 127 they were bowled out for by Oxford in 2019. Sanklecha added to his tally to return figures of 3-26 from 15 overs, while Eason finished with 2-29 with Downs all out in 35.4 overs.
However, that was as good as it got for Horspath as the crazy cricket continued with their innings quickly turning into a procession.
Brock and Warner produced inspired spells of swing bowling, and with Freddie Smith taking four catches behind the stumps, the visitors were blown away inside 25 overs.
Horspath's total was also their lowest in the league, having previously succumbed for 59 against Banbury in 2015.
Posted by: Russ