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Horspath's charge foiled by Thame's last pair

04 Jul 2023

HORSPATH were denied victory by Thame Town's last pair as they had to settle for a draw in Home Counties Premier League Division 2 at Church Meadow.
Minhaj Jalill hit his third league half-century of the season as the visitors posted 215-9 after electing to bat.
Horspath then restricted Thame to 173-9 with Jalill (4-52) completing a fine all-round game as Greg Jenkins and Jonathon Jelfs survived the last 4.1 overs.
The Sri Lankan led the way in Horspath's innings, making 53 off 60 balls with two fours and three sixes as opener Tom Coleman (39) and Hussaan Ahmad (36) also made useful contributions.
Skipper Will Eason promoted himself up the order to No 7 and justified the move by steering the side to the close with an unbeaten 21.
Thame captain Hassam Mushtaq was the pick of the home attack with 4-64 from 18 overs of leg spin, while Luke Hayes returned tidy figures of 2-25 from eight overs.
Horspath made a good start with the ball, reducing Thame to 23-2 with a wicket apiece for Max Smith and Eason.
Hayes and Alex Browne then put on 55 for the third wicket, before the latter became Jalill's first victim with Stephen Green taking the catch to make it 78-3.
Horspath's overseas star struck again by bowling Josh Towell to leave Thame 104-4, but with Hayes bringing up his half-century the home side were well placed to push for victory at 131-4 with 20 overs left.
However, Jalill then had fellow Sri Lankan Dinushka Malan caught at slip by Eason for 22 to make it 138-5, and four runs later Hayes was bowled by Amin Rafiq for 62. His runs came off 113 balls and included four fours and a six.
The Horspath off-spinner then dealt Thame a double blow by winning lbw appeals against Mushtaq and Au John to leave the home side 168-8.
Suddenly Horspath were sensing victory and their hopes were lifted when Jalill claimed his fourth victim with Jimmy Phillips catching Brad Watson, but Jenkins and Jelfs held out to foil the visitors.
Jalill's four-wicket haul came off 18 overs, while Rafiq returned excellent figures of 3-26 from 14 overs.
They shone in a much-improved performance from Horspath, who were ending a run of three successive defeats. The side remain in ninth place ahead of Saturday's trip to Amersham.