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Five-star Richardson sparks Horspath 2nd win

19 Jun 2023

LEG-SPINNER Josh Richardson was the match-winner with a superb spell of 5-33 as Horspath 2nd pulled off an unlikely three-run victory at bottom club Buckingham Town 2nd in Cherwell League Division 1.
Fresh from his heroics in the Voneus Village Cup at Tiddington two weeks ago when he hit the last ball of the match for six to snatch a one-wicket win, the 18-year-old this time starred with the ball with his five-wicket haul coming off 18.3 overs.
Having collapsed to 131 all out after electing to bat, Horspath looked to be heading for defeat as Buckingham made a solid start in reply.
But Richardson and seamer Tyrone Eyles, who provided excellent support with 4-29, gradually worked their way through the order after the teenage leg-spinner bowled skipper Ben Ungaretti for 31.
Even then Buckingham seemed set to scramble over the line before Richardson took the last two wickets as the hosts fell short on 128 all out, with the youngster racing off across the pitch to celebrate victory.
Earlier, Horspath had been well placed with opener Christopher Hofen (46) and Muhammad Ahmad (40) sharing a second-wicket stand before the side caved in to Ungaretti (4-18) and James Gear (3-25).
However, it was to prove enough with the win lifting the side up to sixth place.
Horspath 3rd shared the spoils in a hard-fought draw at home to Westcott in Division 3A.
Facing the visitors' 227-9 after they had elected to bat with Australian Cade Linde hitting a superb 124, Horspath replied with 203-9.
Skipper Ryan Hicks (3-48) and Jason Cardy (3-75) were the main wicket-takers after Andy Cummings (2-14) had produced a vintage eight-over opening spell to reduce Westcott to 8-2.
But Linde then dominated the innings with 12 fours and five sixes in his 125-ball knock.
The 18-year-old Queenslander shared a fourth-wicket stand of 60 with Mark Strong (31), before putting on 55 for the eighth wicket with Waqas Ur-Rehman (22).
Horspath tumbled to 82-6 in reply. Jack Hussey (27) and Hicks (29) then put on 61 for the seventh wicket, before last pair Cardy (22no) and Cummings saw the side safely to the close.
Alimar Khan (3-44) was Westcott's most successful bowler, while Linde took 2-55.
The draw sees Horspath move up two places to third.
Horspath 4th were knocked off top spot in Division 6A when their unbeaten record was ended with a four-wicket defeat at Fringford.
The visitors had won their previous five matches but were bowled out for 130 after being put in to bat.
Only stand-in skipper Adrian Manger was able to make any headway with 30 at the top of the order before he was run out.
The wickets were shared between Charlie Bethell (2-11), Josh Wordsworth (2-13), Stuart Wickens (2-27) and Upkar Singh (2-30).
Stuart Berry then produced a valiant spell of 4-23 from 16 overs, making Fringford battle for the runs before they finally secured the win at 131-6.
He shone as the home side were reduced to 32-4 but Harry Kettlewell (49) and Wordsworth (41no) put on 74 for the sixth wicket to take Fringford to the brink of victory. Ben Wise (2-31) took the two other wickets to fall.
The defeat sees Horspath slip to second place, five points behind new leaders Bletchley Town 2nd.