Horspath 2nd bounce back to winning ways in style

HORSPATH 2nd regained the winning thread with a five-wicket victory to severely dent hosts Bledlow Village's promotion hopes in Cherwell League Division 2. 

Tyrone Eyles hit 47. Picture: Rob Judges

Charlie Turner (2-20) and Asad Rafiq (2-27) did the early damage as second-placed Bledlow were bowled out for 148 after being put in to bat. 

Jamil Faruq (2-24) and Jehan Mohammed (2-41) maintained Horspath's grip with only Olly Woodward (47) showing any resistance, before young spinners Josh Richardson and Alfie Turner completed the job with a wicket apiece. 

Horspath lost early wickets in reply, but opener Robbie Eason (45) and Tyrone Eyles (47) then shared a match-winning stand as the visitors secured victory at 150-5. Eason hit eight fours, while Eyles hammered seven boundaries and two sixes. 

Horspath remain sixth, while Bledlow have now slipped outside the top two and trail Bicester & North Oxford, who have leapfrogged above them, by 20 points. 

Tom Smith picked up 4-30 to help set Horspath 3rd on the way to a four-wicket win at Tiddington 2nd in Division 4A. 

Smith polished off the tail as Tiddington crashed to 116 all out after electing to bat. Andy Cummings, stand-in skipper Hayden Moon, Joe Gibbs and Jason Cardy took one wicket apiece, while Saif Dogar affected two run outs. Abdullah Sadiqi (28) top-scored for the hosts. 

Horspath slipped to 40-4 in reply, but Rayaan Dogar made 41, before Moon (16no) saw the side home at 120-6. 

The win moved Horspath up to third, but 24 points adrift of second-placed Oxenford with just one game remaining. 

Horspath 4th's hopes of going up from Division 6B suffered another setback with a six-wicket defeat at home to Risinghurst, whose promotion was confirmed after they took over at the top. 

With three teams promoted to Tier 5, Craig Wharton's youthful side remain in fourth place, but are now 22 points adrift of third-placed East Oxford 2nd with just one game left. 

Having chosen to bat, Horspath made 178 all out with Arsalan Khattak (42) again leading the way as Lokeshwar Bandhu (3-19) and John Thompson (3-20) held the hosts in check. 

Horspath's bowlers stuck to their task well with Josh Cummings (2-29) to the fore, but SM Mansoor Abbasi hit an unbeaten 78 to take Risinghurst to victory at 181-4 after Bandhu chipped in with 29. Hadi Ali and Shreyas Anand were the other wicket-takers.

Posted by: Russ