Horspath Cricket Club News story

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Horspath survive collapse in opening win

15 May 2023

HORSPATH survived a dramatic top-order collapse to record a five-wicket win at Cumnor and get their Home Counties Premier League Division 2 campaign off to a successful start.
Having bowled the hosts out for 95 after putting them in to bat, Horspath crashed to 6-4.
But in-form Stephen Green (41no) and Sri Lankan all-rounder Minhaj Jalill (29) came to the rescue, sharing a fifth-wicket stand of 70 to steer the visitors to victory at 96-5.
Jalill was completing a fine all-round game after taking 4-24 from  his 10 overs as Horspath capitalised on winning the toss in bowler-friendly conditions following a wet week.
Skipper Will Eason made early inroads into the Cumnor batting with a trademark accurate spell of 2-19, while Touseef Ahmad picked up a wicket on his league debut as the hosts stumbled to 63-3.
But it was the combination of off-spinners Jalill and Amin Rafiq - backed up by some good catches - who hastened Cumnor's demise with five wickets falling for six runs as the home side collapsed to 69-8.
George Bacon provided some late resistance to top score with 17, before he fell to Rafiq, who finished with 3-21 as Cumnor were all out off 36.1 overs.
However, Horspath's hopes of making serene progress to their target quickly received a rude awakening as Bacon (3-19) triggered a spectacular collapse with four wickets falling for one run.
The situation looked decidedly precarious, but Jalill and Green, who has started this season where he finished off last term having hit a brilliant century in the Feast match, steadied the ship before wresting control from the home side.
Jalill hit two sixes before he was bowled by Harry Ackland, but by then Horspath had victory in sight and Green saw them home with his knock including six fours as victory was secured off 24.1 overs.
Next up for Horspath is a home game on Saturday against Chesham, who have had both their games abandoned this season.
Last weekend they were 12-2 at home to Oxford Downs when the umpires deemed the pitch to be unsafe, and the match was called off.