TEENAGER Josh Richardson smashed a six off the last ball to give Horspath a thrilling one-wicket win at Tiddington in an incredible finish to the Oxfordshire final of the Voneus Village Cup.
With three needed to win off the final delivery, the 18-year-old took a couple of strides down the pitch before striking the ball over long on to snatch an amazing victory.
An ecstatic Richardson, who finished unbeaten on 17, ran off the square before throwing his bat to the ground, jumping in the air and being mobbed by his jubilant teammates as they raced on to the field to celebrate an unbelievable win.
In a remarkable climax, Richardson had also hit the first ball of the last over for six over long on as Horspath - needing 11 to win at that stage with two wickets left - edged closed to Tiddington's 153-8 after the hosts had elected to bat.
He was unable to score off the next ball from off-spinner Bradley Rose, who had bowled superbly to concede just 20 from his previous seven overs, before driving the third delivery down to long off for a single.
In a further dramatic twist, Horspath skipper Will Eason was then caught by Matt Weeks at deep mid-wicket before last man Subhan Javaid secured a single to fine leg off the penultimate delivery, leaving Richardson to settle the tie in the most sensational fashion and see the visitors home at 157-9.
Richardson's last-ball six fittingly made it six of the best for Horspath who were claiming the county crown for the sixth time in their proud history following previous triumphs in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979 and 2021.
Now the club go forward to the national rounds on the road to Lord's with a home tie against Somerset & Avon champions Wembdon - who were handed a walkover after Congresbury were unable to field a side - on Sunday, June 18.
Horspath had struggled to keep up with the run rate on a slow-paced pitch against an accurate Tiddington attack, who held the visitors in check with 16-year-old leg-spinner Louis Stanfield producing an outstanding spell to finish with 5-37 from his eight overs.
Bowling with superb flight, he enticed the visitors' batsman down the pitch on more than one occasion to leave Will Goodman with simple stumpings.
Robbie Eason battled away for 26, but with Horspath 78-5 in the 28th over the game was in the balance.
Stephen Green gave the innings impetus with a well-made 34. However, when he became Goodman's fourth stumping with Rose taking the wicket, Horspath were up against it at 131-8 with 15 balls left.
Will Eason kept their hopes alive by hitting a full toss for six high into the netting on the mid-wicket boundary by the houses in the penultimate over before Richardson emerged as Horspath's hero in that pulsating finale.
Stanfield was the pick of Tiddington's attack with Ryan Chapman (2-19) and Rose (2-34) also returning commendable figures.
Earlier, Horspath had bowled well to restrict Tiddington, who were soon in trouble at 3-2 with Will Eason and Javaid each striking an early blow.
Captain Archie Davis and Nathan Brooks rebuilt the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 57, before the latter was trapped lbw by leg-spinner Richardson for 16.
The visitors were on top, but they continued to be frustrated by Davis, who completed a fine half-century. The Tiddington skipper hit eight fours before eventually falling for 68 off 92 balls with Richardson running in from the long on boundary to take a good low catch off Javaid's bowling.
The Horspath paceman struck again by trapping Nick Pykett for 23 to finish with 4-40, while Richardson picked up 2-30. Amin Rafiq produced an excellent spell to take 1-16 from his eight overs with Eason (1-33) and Jehan Mohammed (0-29) completing the visitors' attack.
It looked a challenging total and so it proved, but no-one could have quite imagined the drama that was to unfold as Horspath - who were well supported by a large following - pulled off a famous victory. Click below for a full re-run of the match