Coleman and Foster sparkle in Horspath's friendly victory

TOM Coleman and Patrick Foster cracked half-centuries as Horspath completed their pre-season programme with an emphatic 168-run win over Westbury at the Recreation Ground. 

 

Tom Coleman made 56

With the hosts' Home Counties Premier League campaign getting under way at home to Oxford Downs next Saturday, the friendly victory against last season's Cherwell League runners-up proved an ideal warm-up. 

 

Coleman made 56 off 70 balls with nine fours, before Foster smashed a whirlwind 51 from 31 deliveries, which included seven boundaries and two maximums, as Horspath racked up 259-6 off 45 overs. 

 

Jehan Mohammed, fresh from his superb unbeaten century against Great & Little Tew in the Voneus Village Cup, continued his good form with an unbeaten 43, while opener Robbie Eason made 41. 

 

Harry Williams picked up 3-61 for Westbury, while there were accurate spells from Charlie Williams (2-33) and Charlie Harper (1-32).

Will Eason (3-19) then made early inroads into the visitors' batting as they caved in to 91 all out off just 25.1 overs. Lloyd Belcher rounded off the innings with 3-22, while Coleman took 2-29 on a rare outing with the ball. 

 

Meanwhile, Mohson Rana hit an unbeaten half-century as Horspath 3rd built up for their Cherwell campaign with a seven-wicket win at home to Oxford University 3rd.

Having bowled the students out for 160, Rana made 57 not out to steer Horspath to victory at 161-3. 

 

His knock included nine fours and a six, sharing an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 114 with Alex Thomas (40no). Tom Betts chipped in with 27, while Ishant, with 1-21 off eight overs, was the pick of the University attack.

Earlier, Rana had returned figures of 2-16 in the visitors' innings, which also featured tidy spells from Josh Cummings (2-19) and Joe Gibbs (2-26).

Posted by: Russ