Match Reports

A mixed Horspath squad arrived at Cumnor on Sunday sporting "Not The Tourists XI" tee shirts to try their hand in the first (UK) warm up match of the 2008 season. Supported by a small number of jet-lagged supporters who may have missed the intended humour of the tee shirts, Horspath lost the toss and fielded under a leaden sky threatening drizzle but free from the icy north winds of the previous few days. Tight bowling, tight keeping and athletic fielding restricted the home side to 114 for 9 off their 40 overs with Dave Heritage producing the best figures with 15 - 3, and Joe Todd producing a long spell of economic bowling.

In what passed for semi-sunlight after a tropical paradise, Horspath openers Ned Murray and Chris Penner started solidly at 4 per over until Chris fell for 25. Ned pushed on supported by Phil Chanel and Tom Holmes, and Horspath passed the total in the 27th over.

In a remarkable game on a day when the Met Office were forecasting a washout only 24 hours before, Over 540 runs were scored on a Horspath pitch that is a tribute to the hard work put in by Derek Newell, Max Eason and Richard Parker over the winter.

Kidmore End won the toss and batted putting on a seemingly invincible 270 runs from 40 overs with the loss of only 4 wickets, with the first 2008 century at the Rec scored by J Waldron who made 112 before being caught by Will Eason from Ben Cook, and opening partner T Sheldon putting on 92 before being bowled by Adie Manger.

Horspath's reply was faltering at first with the early loss of opener Adie Manger and No 3 batsman Robbie Eason. Opener Chris Penner batted with increasing fluency and formed a strong partnership with Phil Chanel before Phil's wicket fell for 58 and Chris's for 63. Joe Todd was next up and batted impressively for 29. Things were looking challenging but possible for the home side with 10 overs to go, 90 runs required and five wickets in hand, until Will Eason and Stephen Green fell quickly causing 'pathians to inspect the sky for the promised rain. Enter Ben Cook in the 34th over at No 8 who, ably supported by Andy Cummings, blasted a quick 52 runs including five sixes to pass the Kidmore End total with two balls to spare.

In a tense and exciting match that went to the last ball, Horspath overcame Hanborough on Sunday to go through to round 3 of the Village Cup. Hanborough won the toss and put Horspath in to bat in drizzle that persisted for half of Horspath's innings. Openers Adie Manger and Chris Penner worked hard to get runs in the soft conditions but put on a partnership of 34 before Adie fell in the 9th over. Chris followed in the 10th and Robbie Eason and Phil Chanel took over to take Horspath to 118 for the fall of the third wicket in what turned out to be a match winning partnership. Joey Todd chipped in with a useful sixteen as the rest of the squad made up a total of 192 runs for the loss of nine wickets from 40 overs. A total that seemed respectable in the conditions.

Hanborough's reply started in drizzle and Horspath's luck looked in when opener M Dove played on to a ball from Andy Cummings in the second over. Enter S Wood who with M Busby made a second wicket stand of 84. With the score on 102 from 20 overs for the loss of only 2 wickets Hanborough were starting to look favourites until the departure of Wood stumped by Joey Todd from a ball from Adie Manger. Horspath's bowling and tight fielding pinned Hanborough's run rate back in the third quarter of their innings with Dave Heritage bowling a key maiden as he entered the attack. In the last few overs it became Horspath's game to lose with 45 runs required from the last 5 overs but danger man Lovick batting at 7 nearly took the game away from Horspath hitting three sixes until caught by Deano Creed from Dave Heritage in the penultimate over. Needing 10 to win from the last over Hanborough lost two wickets including one caught expertly on the boundary by Will Eason and ended just six runs short of Horspath's total.