ACTING skipper Joey Todd (pictured) hit a superb unbeaten century as title-chasing Horspath 2nd clinched promotion from Cherwell League Division 2 with an emphatic eight-wicket win at home to Brackley.
Todd racked up his second ton of the campaign with 108 not out to steer Horspath to victory at 173-2 in pursuit of the visitors' 169 all out after they had elected to bat.
The win saw Horspath stretch their lead at the top to 41 points over Buckingham Town 2nd with a further nine points back to Oxford Downs 2nd.
As those two sides meet on the final day it means Horspath are guaranteed a top-two finish, while victory at home to fourth-placed Bledlow Village next Saturday will see the side crowned champions.
Todd's terrific ton came off 100 balls and included 16 fours across the parched outfield and a straight six.
He shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of 128 with Josh Richardson, who made an unbeaten 42.
Todd reached his half-century with a boundary through the covers in the 23rd over, before increasing the tempo and going to his century with a superb square cut for four in the 37th over.
He sealed the victory in style in the same over with another boundary.
Richardson was completing a fine all-round game, having taken 3-25 from 10 overs of leg-spin in Brackley's innings.
With Brackley 79-1, he stopped the visitors in their tracks with three swift wickets as they crashed to 80-5.
He was well supported by Mark Skelton (2-11) and Subhan Javaid (2-35). Skipper Adam Wirth and David Gibson both made 30 for Brackley before the innings subsided.
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Horspath 3rd's tremendous 12-week unbeaten run in Division 3A came to an end with a 65-run loss at home to Bledlow Ridge.
The side, who had last tasted defeat against Bletchley Town on May 21, saw the visitors post 219-8 after choosing to bat.
Sameer Hashimi (2-29), skipper Ryan Hicks (2-29), Hayden Moon (1-21) and Ed Oakley (1-27) all produced tidy spells, but it couldn't stop Bledlow setting a challenging total.
Opener Michael Winson (54) and Robert Armstrong-Jones (50) hit half-centuries for the visitors.
Horspath never threatened the target despite handy contributions from Rayaan Dogar (30), opener Hadi Ali (29) and Dougal Main (29) as they fell well short on 154 all out.
Hamzah Ahmed (4-35) was the chief destroyer before Phil Brooks (3-2) polished off the innings.
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Opener Lukas Yendole hit a maiden half-century in Horspath 4th's nine-wicket defeat at Challow & Childrey 2nd, who went top of Division 5C.
Yendole's 59 was almost half of Horspath's score as they were bowled out for 121 after electing to bat with skipper Craig Wharton (20) the only other player to make double figures.
The wickets were shared round with Alex Dawson (3-9) leading the way.
Challow made short work of the target, racing to 122-1 off 19 overs with Mike Konschel smashing 59 and Nick Moorman making an unbeaten 35.
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