Horspath players could scarcely believe it after they won a remarkable Oxford-shire Under 17 final for the Honey-Bee Trophy at home to Aston Rowant.

The result looked a foregone conclusion, as with two overs left Rowant needed just three runs for victory with five wickets in hand.

However, two of Horspath’s youngest players, Asad Rafiq and Adeel Rehman, each bowled a superb over conceding only one run apiece.

In desperation, Rowant tried to run to the wicket-keeper after missing the last ball, but suffered a run out to leave the scores tied on 131.

Horspath took the trophy, for the first time in eight years by virtue of having lost fewer wickets.

After being inserted, an aggressive 23 from Graham Beer backed up by 20 from Kamaal Hamid saw Horspath reach 49-0 after ten overs.

Harrison Ward maintained the momentum before Dan Todd hit some lusty blows in his unbeaten 42 to see them to 131-4 from their 20 overs.

In reply, Rowant were handily placed at the halfway stage on 79-1.

Andrew Tolson hit 22 before falling to a brilliant catch by Rafiq.

Dan Matthews made 44 and Hendrick Robyns 36 and they looked like certain winners until those last two fateful overs.

Todd’s innings won him the man-of-the-match trophy.