MARK Jefferson hit a maiden Home Counties Premier League half-century to steer Horspath to a thrilling five-wicket home win over Divsion 1 leaders High Wycombe. Jefferson paced his innings perfectly with good support from James Fitzjohn (35) and Stephen Green (24no) to chase down Wycombe's 198-7 after the seven-times champions had been put in to bat. The middle-order batsman, who has joined this season from Colwall in Herefordshire, finished unbeaten on 54 from 70 balls, which included a six and five fours, as Horspath clinched victory at 198-5 with four balls to spare. Jefferson came to the crease at 88-4 after overseas star Rameez Raja, who had smashed three sixes and four boundaries in motoring to 39 balls from just 25 balls, was given run out going for a quick single by a throw from Tom Hampton when he looked to be comfortably home. But Horspath's new recruit was unfazed, putting on 48 for the fifth wicket with Fitzjohn, before an unbroken stand of 63 with Green secured a famous win. Earlier, Horspath turned in a terrific display in the field to hold Wycombe in check. Seamer Ian Slatcher made the breakthrough with the score on 28 when he had Gavin Baker caught at short extra cover by Rameez. Four runs later, Patrick Castleden edged a delivery from off-spinner Harrison Ward to skipper Will Eason at slip without scoring. And it was 52-3 when Ward struck again with Tom Coleman catching a skier at mid-off to remove opener Ed Casterton for 24. Wycombe slipped deeper in trouble with Aashir Zaib presenting James Fitzjohn with a catch at mid-wicket off Will Eason to make it 64-4. But then skipper Nathan Hawkes and George Russell rebuilt the innings with 93 for the fifth wicket, before the Wycombe captain was caught by Fitzjohn at backward point reverse sweeping off Rameez for 62 from 123 balls with six fours. Russell was then bowled attempting to sweep a ball from Ward to make it 167-6. The final wicket fell with the score on 182 when Conner Haddow was run out by a throw from Green at deep cover going for a second. Cameron Parsons and Adam Dobb were undefeated at the close, but they were unable to get the visitors above the 200-mark. Ward returned superb figures of 3-28, and there were also tidy spells from Eason (1-34) and Slatcher (1-44), while Lloyd Belcher and Jamil Faruq bowled well without success. Ward was then quickly into his stride in Horspath's reply, before he fell along with fellow opener Robbie Eason with the score on 26. A catch at deep square leg by Zaib off Parsons saw Ward depart for a fluent 25, while Eason was adjudged lbw to Hampton. Rameez took the attack to Wycombe, though, and the score had moved on to 59 when Coleman wafted at a wide delivery from Jonathan Burden and was caught behind by Russell. The Pakistan Twenty20 international was batting brilliantly, with his three maximums including a massive hit over the hedge at extra cover, when he was controversially given run out. But Jefferson and Fitzjohn kept the score ticking over, before the latter sent a leading edge to Castleden off Dobb at mid-wicket to make it 136-5. Green survived a chance to Hawkes at slip before he had scored. But from then on he helped Jefferson inch Horspath closer to their target with every run greeted by enthusiastic applause and every boundary bringing raucous cheers. A memorable victory was secured when Jefferson lofted a delivery from Hampton up towards deep extra cover by the cycle speedway track, and the pair scampered through for three runs much to the delight of their teammates and the home supporters.
Posted by: Russ
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