HORSPATH were left to rue losing the toss and being put in to bat on a seamer-friendly pitch as they crashed to 94 all out and a six-wicket defeat at Banbury in Home Counties Premier League Division 1. Under leaden skies and on a freshly-cut green strip the toss was always likely to be crucial, and when Horspath skipper Will Eason was out of luck with the coin falling in the favour of Banbury's Lloyd Sabin, the home captain had little hesitation in bowling first. Former Pakistan Test seamer Aizaz Cheema revelled in the conditions to take 5-33 off 14 overs and rip the heart out of the Horspath batting. Dom O'Connor, back in the 1st XI for the first time in two years after a run of good scores including back-to-back centuries for the 2nd XI, was the first to go when he was caught behind by Will Hawtin off Cheema for five with the score on 11. Two runs later, the in-form James Fitzjohn edged behind off Brad Taylor without scoring. Tom Coleman and Robbie Eason took the score to 41 before Horspath lost six wickets for just ten runs sandwiched around a rain break. Cheema triggered the almighty collapse when Coleman was caught by Craig Haupt for 14. One run later, Tom Cosford was caught behind off Ollie Wright, and without addition to the score Robbie Eason provided Hawtin with his fourth catch when he edged a delivery from Cheema to make it 42-5. Four runs were added before a break for rain in the 17th over gave Horspath some respite. But it proved short-lived as soon after the resumption Stephen Green and Will Eason were both bowled by Cheema with the score on 50. And when Ian Slatcher was bowled by Wright one run later to make it 51-8, Horspath were facing the prospect of posting a club record low score for the league - having been bowled out for 59 by the same opponents at White Post Road two years ago. However, Mark Jefferson and Jamil Faruq ensured the side were spared that ignominy by putting on 43 for the ninth wicket, before the former was bowled by Wright for 28 with the score on 94. Lloyd Belcher fell two balls later without scoring, and Horspath were all out off 29 overs. Wright provided Cheema with excellent support to finish with 4-27. Banbury then slumped to 9-2 in reply to give Horspath some hope. Wicket-keeper Robbie Eason produced a direct hit as he stood back to Slatcher to stump Craig Haupt with the left-hander lifting his back foot out of the crease, before Ollie Clarke was bowled by the former Reading paceman. However, Sabin and Charlie Hill then put on 69 for the third wicket, before the latter was trapped lbw by Belcher for 22. Horspath's left-arm spinner struck again when Faruq accepted a chance from Richard West, but by then Banbury were within three runs of victory. Sabin ensured they crossed the line without any further alarms by finishing unbeaten on 55 from 87 balls with a six and five fours as the hosts clinched victory at 96-4. Slatcher (2-20) and Belcher (2-27) impressed with the ball for Horspath, but the damage had been done earlier.
Posted by: Russ
No comments:
Post a Comment