HORSPATH are through to the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup final after clinching top spot in the South Group with a hard-fought five-wicket home win over Oxford. Will Eason's side will now face North Group winners Banbury at Wormsley on Saturday, September 16. Going into their last group game, leaders Horspath were already guaranteed a place on Twenty20 finals day, but needed to win to be sure of topping the section and securing a crack at the Oxon Cup rather than the Wilf Bennett Trophy for group runners-up. Oxford posted a challenging 159-7 after electing to bat, with Alex Morgan smashing 61 off 42 balls with three sixes and seven fours, while John Barrett racked up 53 from 35 deliveries with one six and seven boundaries. The pair put on 93 for the third wicket, and Horspath could have been chasing a much bigger target, but for an amazing last over from Tom Cosford, which featured four consecutive wickets. The off-spinner bowled Morgan with his second ball, then ran out Tom Gallagher with a direct hit to the bowler's end, before bowling Jamie Perkin and then Tom Partridge was run out by Tom Coleman going for a second run. Cosford finished with the impressive figures of 4-11 from his four overs. Coleman (24) and Cosford (19) then put on 46 for Horspath's first wicket only for the hosts to be pegged back to 60-3 by Andrew Clough, who picked up 2-3 from two overs before picking up an injury. However, Eason and Stephen Green got Horspath back on track, taking the score to 111, before the latter fell for 25. But the Horspath captain hit 48 from 42 balls, which contained two sixes and three fours to take his side to the brink of victory with Mark Skelton (16no). When Eason was caught off the first ball of the last over, five were needed for victory, which was secured by five wides off the third delivery to take the hosts to 162-5 off 19.2 overs.
Posted by: Russ
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