Aston Rowant ended a 23-year wait to be crowned Oxfordshire champions in the npower Village Cup as Horspath’s final hoodoo struck again in a last-over thriller at the Recreation Ground yesterday.

Rowant, who only reached the county decider after their semi-final conquerors Oxford Downs withdrew after fielding an ineligible player, held their nerve in a tense finish to claim a three-wicket win with a ball to spare.

Chasing Horspath’s 182-8, Rowant were always on target until a spirited fightback by the home side left them needing 19 to win off the last two overs.

The first ball of the penultimate over saw Paul Plumridge dropped at long on by Will Eason off Adrian Manger and two misfields, which saw singles turned into twos, plus a four from Plumridge, helped turn the tide firmly in Row-ant’s favour.

But the drama wasn’t over. Needing seven off the last over bowled by David Heritage to finish on level scores and go through by virtue of having lost fewer wickets, Plumridge took a single off the first ball.

Rowant skipper Dave Ridgley was then run out by Manger going for a second off the next.

Paul Humphreys picked up a single off the third ball, and then Plumridge smashed the fourth delivery through extra cover for four to bring the scores level.

He then clipped the next ball to the fine leg boundary to spark a pitch invasion by the jubilant Rowant contingent in the crowd of more than 300.

Plumridge finished unbeaten on 45 off 63 balls.

It was a cracking finish to an absorbing encounter – but for Horspath it was heartbreak again as they finished beaten county finalists for the fourth successive year.

Having won the toss and elected to bat on a slow-paced pitch, Horspath found runs hard to come by.

Indeed 42 extras – with a massive 33 wides – provided their leading contribution.

After the early loss of Ned Murray, Phil Chanel, who top-scored with 37, and skipper Robbie Eason shared a stand of 78 for the second wicket as Ryan Dutton conceded just 23 off his nine overs.

But just when Horspath were looking to accelerate they lost a wicket in four consecutive overs with seamers Tim Foster, who took 4-44, and Humphreys doing the damage.

It was left to 18-year-old Stephen Green, with some cracking straight drives, to push the hosts towards a challenging total.

Will Eason struck an early blow in the Rowant innings when he had Alex Jewell trapped lbw.

And he then removed Tim Morgan to leave Rowant 46-2.

But with useful contributions from Chris Watling, Chris Eaton and Karl Penhale, Rowant inched closer.

Left-arm spinner Ben Cook produced an excellent spell of 3-26 – which included a stunning catch by Murray at deep mid-wicket – to leave the game in the balance.

But Plumridge emerged as Rowant’s hero to book a trip away to the Somerset champions.

Scores: Horspath 182-8 (40 ovs, P Chanel 37, T Foster 4-44), Aston Rowant 186-7 (39.5 ovs, P Plumridge 45no, B Cook 3-26).