Cutter's half-century in vain for Horspath 2nd

OPENER Kit Cutter's half-century couldn't save Horspath 2nd from a five-wicket defeat at third-placed Oxford Downs in Division 1. Cutter hit 62 off 88 balls with a six and seven fours after Horspath elected to bat first. He shared an opening stand of 73 with Dom O'Connor, but after Cutter was the third wicket to fall on 123, the innings fell away and Horspath were 178 all out. Wasim Mehmood (3-39) was the hosts' leading wicket-taker. Frankie Crouch (56) and George Sandbach (51) then hit half-centuries as Downs secured victory at 179-5. Horspath used eight bowlers, but it proved in vain and the side remains bottom. Opener Craig Wharton hit his second successive half-century as Horspath 3rd were held to a draw at home to Dinton 2nd in Division 4. Wharton, who made an unbeaten 81 for Horspath 4th a week ago, took the step up in his stride to post 76 and set Horspath 3rd on the way to 251-6 after they had been put in to bat. Ryan Hicks weighed in with an unbeaten 45, and Chris Jones made 40 as Tali Husain took 3-72. Dinton's reply of 204-8 was built on a solid opening stand between Aiden Burrows (42) and Manan Parmar (41) before they were both run out. Stuart Berry (2-53) was the most successful Horspath bowler, while there was a wicket apiece for Jamie Hicks, Hayden Moon and Adrian Manger. Trevor Spindler took 5-13 as Horspath 4th made it two wins on the bounce in Division 7 with a crushing seven-wicket victory at Long Marston 3rd in their bottom-of-the-table battle. The veteran seamer led the way to send the hosts, who are propping up the section, crashing to 76 all out after Horspath elected to bowl first. He was well supported by Pankaj Chawla (2-25), and Charlie Turner and George Horsley, who each took a wicket. Opener Derek Watts then made an unbeaten to steer Horspath to 78-3.

Posted by: Russ