HORSPATH celebrated a spectacular Cherwell League double by being crowned Division 1 champions and Pullinger Cup winners in the space of 24 hours, writes Russell Smith.
A 79-run victory at Aston Rowant 2nd on Saturday sealed the league crown, before an unlikely nine-run win at home to Didcot on Sunday secured cup glory.
The title triumph, which adds to Horspath’s championships in 2010 and 2013, means the club are in line to be invited to rejoin the Home Counties Premier League after just one season away.
Stephen Green hit an unbeaten 77 in Saturday’s success at Rowant, after opener Robbie Eason made 68, with the pair putting on 88 for the fourth wicket as Horspath posted 245-7 after electing to bat.
READ ALSO: Kyle Edwards signs short-term deal with U’s
The home side were then bowled out for 166 with leg-spinner Viv Narayan (4-28) wrapping up the innings.
The day was also notable for an appearance by singer Lulu, who walked round the ground to the second pitch where her son and grandson, Jordan and Edward Frieda, were playing for Aston Rowant 4th.
However, it was a shout for lbw from skipper Will Eason which made the breakthrough in the hosts’ reply.
Thad Cooper (34) and Jack Veal (32) took Rowant to 80-1, only for Horspath to go ‘Boom Bang-a-Bang’ with three quick wickets making it 88-4. Sasha Barras hit a defiant 45, before becoming one of Narayan’s four victims.
Horspath completed the double at Pullinger Cup Finals Day, the inaugural T20 competition for tier one and two sides, at the Recreation Ground.
The hosts looked to be up against it after being restricted to 117-9, after choosing to bat in the decider against Didcot.
Narayan smashed 28 off 19 balls at the top of the order, but after he was run out by a direct hit from wicketkeeper Jacob Townsend, the innings fell away as Ryan Greyvenstein took 3-13 and skipper Ceri Holmes 2-19.
But then Horspath captain Amin Rafiq’s decision to employ a rare all-spin attack proved a masterstroke as Didcot were held to 108-4 in reply.
The south Oxfordshire side made a disastrous start with Sam Leslie’s brilliant throw running out Baltej Tattla off the first ball and they were soon 34-4.
Nicholas Tindall (43no) and Sam Hepke (29no) shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 74, but were unable to cut loose against Horspath’s five-star spin attack headed by man of the match Rafiq (2-28).
In the semi-finals, Horspath beat Banbury 2nd by 65 runs with Dougal Main blasting 57 off 30 balls and Dan Todd hammering 48 from 21 deliveries, while Didcot defeated Oxford Downs 2nd by four wickets.
Greyvenstein spearheaded Didcot’s run chase with 57 off 25 balls after Downs’ Ethan Davie had cracked 55 from 39 deliveries.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here