Cosford stars in Horspath's Twenty20 victory

Tom Cosford

NEW recruit Tom Cosford smashed a blistering half-century to set Horspath on the way to a
convincing 45-run home victory over Thame Town in the Home Counties Premier League Twenty20 first round on Bank Holiday Monday.

Cosford combined some brutal hitting with deft touch play to make 55 off 35 balls, which included two sixes and nine fours, as Horspath posted 176-3 after being put in to bat. He played the leading role in an opening stand of 87 with Robbie Eason, before being bowled by Mike Higgs, following a break for rain. Tom Coleman kept up the momentum with 35 from 28 deliveries, taking the score to 163, before he was stumped by Callum Russell off Andrew Russell. Eason finished undefeated on 48 off 53 balls.

Opener Will Sutcliffe shone for Thame before he was caught by Jamil Faruq off Coleman at mid-off for 55 from 38 balls, with three sixes and six fours. With visiting skipper Michael Beard having fallen to an excellent diving catch by Lloyd Belcher - again off Coleman - at deep mid-wicket shortly before, there was no way back for Thame, who were bowled out for 131. Spinners Cosford (3-10), Coleman (3-16) and Belcher (3-22) did the damage. Horspath are now at home to Great & Little Tew, who beat Buckingham Town by 12 runs, in the second round on Bank Holiday, Monday, May 29.

The previous day a makeshift Horspath side crashed to a 152-run defeat at home to Tiddington in the Cricketer Village Cup first round. Asad Rafiq bowled with good pace to take 5-44, but it couldn't stop the visitors rattling up 226-8 off 40 overs after electing to bat, with Nick Pykett (69), Will Goodman (51) and Will Cooper (30) leading the way. Ryan Hicks (2-40) and Ed Oakley (1-33) also produced good spells for the hosts. Horspath then crashed to 74 all out against the spin of Neil Smith (4-21) and Pykett (4-25).

Opener Robbie Eason had continued his impressive pre-season form on Saturday with an unbeaten 70 in Horspath's emphatic eight-wicket home win over Great Brickhill. Having bowled out Brickhill for 150, Horspath cruised home with Eason hitting one six and 12 fours in his 118-ball undefeated innings.

Coleman chipped in with 27, before Pat Foster made an unbeaten 33 from 44 deliveries with two sixes and four boundaries to help clinch victory on 152-2. In Brickhill's innings, the wickets had been shared around with two apiece for Faruq, Ian Slatcher and Belcher as Graeme Carter (31) top-scored for the visitors.

Carl Thompson made 51 as Horspath 3rd went down by 94 runs away to Banbury 3rd. Thompson's half-century proved in vain with little support coming at the other end as Horspath were bowled out for 142 with Ollie Murrey taking 3-7 after the hosts had posted 236-9. Immy Mohammed starred in Banbury's innings with 71, which included five sixes and nine fours, while Paul Tew made 46 and Murrey 36 not out. Hayden Moon picked up 3-38, while Stuart Berry took 3-66 from 16 consecutive overs.

Posted by: Russ