Horspath clinch Hartwell Cup Final spot in last-over thriller

HORSPATH kept their cool on the UK's hottest day on record to clinch a nail-biting six-wicket win at Challow & Childrey and a place in the Hartwell Senior Cup Final at Wormsley on September 17.

Going into their last Pool 2 game, Patrick Foster's side knew they had to complete a perfect record of four wins out of four to be sure of top spot - and they duly delivered.

Jimmy Phillips hit a classy half-century.
Pictures: Rob Judges

But their passage to Oxfordshire T20 Finals Day didn't come without a scare as they were taken to the wire by the hosts before emerging victorious in another last-over thriller.

Chasing Challow's 137-5 after the home side had chosen to bat, Horspath appeared to be coasting to victory as Jimmy Phillips (55) and Will Hawtin (25) shared an opening partnership of 69 inside 10 overs.

However, after they were parted the visitors faltered and it took some powerful straight hitting from Imraan Manack (33no) to get them over the line at 140-4 with a ball to spare.

The hosts embraced T20's spirit with boundaries and wickets greeted with musical accompaniment.

Among the tunes that blared out from the pavilion was Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys Are Back In Town' - and Challow old boy Phillips, playing his first competitive game back at his former club, was certainly enjoying being back in town as he set about knocking off the runs.

Unleashing a series of superb cover drives from the green oasis of Challow's square into the straw-coloured desert of an outfield, the left-handed opener added to scores of 47 and 42 in the competition with a classy half-century.

Hawtin, meanwhile, provided excellent support, striking the ball cleanly, including one cracking square cut for four, before he was stumped off Alex Dawson, who hauled Challow back into the game with fine figures of 2-16 off four overs.

Charlie Turner returned figures of 3-26

Phillips, who hit seven fours, went to his fifty with a single down to long off only to be run out shortly afterwards, and with Horspath stumbling to 105-4 in the 17th over, the hosts suddenly sensed they had a chance.

The visitors required 24 off the last two overs, and Manack settled Horspath's nerves with a huge six down to the road end, before Jehan Mohammed's exquisite scoop shot for four saw 10 needed off the final over.

Manack survived a low chance at long on off the first ball while running two, and then smashed the next delivery to the extra cover boundary.

The South African all-rounder was in full flow and picked up two more runs off the fourth ball, before sealing victory in style by hammering the penultimate delivery for four past the sightscreen to see Horspath home to the cheers of their good band of travelling supporters.

Earlier, Horspath had done well to hold the home side to what looked a below-par score on a lightning-fast outfield.

Charlie Turner produced a fine opening spell, before returning to bowl the last over, shattering the stumps with successive deliveries to finish with 3-26.

Manack and Choudhary picked up a wicket apiece with their off-spin, while Lloyd Belcher bowled tidily to concede just 21 runs from his four overs without reward.

Opener Joe Harris hit a bold 41, sharing a second-wicket stand of 50 with Tommie Rees (22), before Olly Dunn (32no) and Jack Pearce (25) took Challow to their final total with the latter's knock including a six, which peppered the scorebox.

Now Horspath await the winners of Pool 1 in the final. Holders Banbury are favourites to top the group after winning their opening three games. They complete their fixtures with a home match against Cumnor on Tuesday.

Posted by: Russ