Horspath denied despite Ruff's maiden Home Counties fifty

ELLIOT Ruff hit a maiden Home Counties Premier League half-century as Horspath's three-match winning streak in Division 2 came to an end with a four-wicket defeat at Harefield. 

Elliot Ruff made a fine 58

Ruff shone with 58 after opener Tom Coleman continued his good run of form with 50 to set Horspath on the way to 233-9 after they had elected to bat. 

The pair shared a second-wicket stand of 61 before Coleman's 65-ball knock, which included eight fours, ended when he was caught by Thomas McLeod off the bowling of Jordan McLeod just after he had reached his half-century to leave the visitors 88-2. 

Ruff kept the runs flowing, though, adding 50 for the fourth wicket with Darryl Brown (24) before he fell lbw to Stephen Croft with his runs coming off 82 balls with six fours. 

Horspath then slumped to 183-8, before the tail wagged with Anupam Sanklecha (22) and Will Eason (17no) adding valuable runs. 

Croft finished with 3-32, while captain Daniel Ogden picked up 2-41. Harefield's run chase was built on a second-wicket stand of 101 between opener Oliver Stalder and Thomas McLeod. 

Sanklecha eventually broke the partnership by having Stalder caught by Will Eason for 61 from 84 deliveries, which included seven fours. 

But that was to prove the Indian paceman's only success and now he has been joined by Great Brickhill captain Garth Davson and Amersham skipper Sam Helm at the top of the Division 2 wicket-taker standings with 38 victims apiece going into next Saturday's final round of games. 

Brown came into the attack and had McLeod caught behind by Will Hawtin for 55. He also faced 84 balls and hit seven boundaries. 

Brown struck again to remove Ogden for 20 with Sanklecha taking the catch, and when Patrick Foster accepted a caught and bowled chance from Lee Tyrrell, Harefield were 172-5 with 11 overs left. However, Croft and Karanpreet Singh then added 54 for the fifth wicket to take the home side to the brink of victory. 

Horspath skipper Lloyd Belcher bowled Croft for 32, but Singh (25no) and Doug King, who hit a six to clinch the win, saw the hosts over the line at 234-6 with two overs to spare. 

Brown (2-32) was Horspath's most successful bowler, while Foster (1-37), Eason (1-40), Belcher (1-47) and Sanklecha (1-54) were the other wicket-takers. 

Horspath stay fifth in the table going into their final game at home to promotion-chasing Wokingham next Saturday.

Posted by: Russ