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Skipper Will praises Village Cup star Josh

06 Jun 2023

HORSPATH captain Will Eason praised Josh Richardson after the teenager snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Tiddington in a dramatic finish to the Oxfordshire final of the Voneus Village Cup.
The 18-year-old kept his cool to hit two sixes in the last over - including the last ball of the match when three were needed to win - as Horspath claimed a thrilling one-wicket win.
Chasing Tiddington's 153-8, Josh had joined his captain at the crease with Horspath 131-8 with 15 balls left.
With Will smashing a six in the penultimate over, Horspath arrived at the last over requiring 11 to win.
Richardson sent the first ball sailing over long on. He then saw his captain caught at deep mid-wicket off the fourth delivery, but after last man Subhan Javaid had scrambled a single he danced down the pitch to smack the final delivery for six over long on and spark wild scenes of celebration.
Speaking the day after, Will joked: "I think I've just about got my heart rate back down!
"I said to Josh with two overs to go 'if we want 12 of the last over you never know'. Obviously the six I hit helped but the next two balls were dots, and if we'd have been able to score of those we would have been in a better position.
"Josh started off the last over with that six. I got caught in four minds about what I should have done - whether to hit it into the trees or along the ground - and it set up that brilliant finish.
"I said to a few of the guys when I was batting with Josh that he had a plan where he wanted to hit the ball. He backed himself if it was in a certain area and the two he did hit were in that area, so he deserves a lot of credit."
Reflecting on the game, the Horspath captain felt both sides deserved praise for the spectacle they produced on a slow-paced pitch, which was difficult to score on.
He added: "I think the toss at the beginning was pretty crucial. We knew their line-up had a lot of spin and we had it in the back of our minds that we would be on a used wicket as well.
"They set the game up well for their bowlers and that type of wicket, and took the pace off well.
"I thought we did pretty well to keep them to 150 and like I said to the boys at the end of their innings 'if we don't win this game they will have bowled really well, and we will have batted poorly'.
"I thought they bowled extremely well. They bowled to one side of the wicket throughout and we found it hard to penetrate the gaps in the inner ring.
"When the run rate went up and up, some of the wickets were lost to a bit of pressure more than anything. Some of them were not pretty, but that was more credit to the way they bowled and fielded. Having said that to chase a total on that wicket I thought we did really well."
The sensational manner of Horspath's success made it extra special and Will put it among the best wins he has experienced.
He said: "In any kind of cup game you will take any type of win, but to win the Oxfordshire section, which is renowned for being hard to get out of, and the way we did it, everyone who was there will remember it for a long time.
"Low scorers are always good games and I think just because it was a final against local rivals it is right up there.
"I have played in plenty of Village Cup finals that we have lost, so it was nice for us just to scrape our way over the line in the fashion we did. It was great for everyone there who was supporting us."
Encouraged by Will's brother, Robbie, the players came back out of the dressing room at the finish to go over and show their appreciation for Horspath's large band of travelling supporters on the far side of the ground.
Will added: "It is such a massive help to have their support. If we keep pushing forward, we need them there again and even more so."
Now Horspath take the next step on the road to Lord's when they face Somerset & Avon Group winners Wembdon in the national round at the Recreation Ground on Sunday, June 18.
Will believes his side is equipped for the challenge.
He said: "It is always hard to tell because you don't know what you are coming up against. I feel like we cover all bases at the minute. In terms of a seam attack, we do pretty well.
"Jehan (Mohammed) adds control in the middle and Amin (Rafiq) has bowled so well this season. He only went for 16 on Sunday.
"He is so easy for me to set a field to and then we have Josh turning the ball away from the right-handers with Tyrone (Eyles) and Max (Smith) as back up.
"Most of the guys playing have scored runs this season. On Sunday we were not chasing a big target. No-one stood out and everyone chipped in. If one guy can bat and everyone chips in, you always have a chance."