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Sharif and Wharton take Horspath 4th into final

24 Jul 2023

AZLAN Sharif returned career-best figures of 6-25 and skipper Craig Wharton hit an unbeaten 84 as Horspath 4th coasted to a nine-wicket win at home to Risinghurst 2nd in the Steve Dixon Memorial Cup semi-final.
Off-spinner Sharif sent the visitors tumbling to 150 all out after they were put in to bat in the last-four tie of the competition for Cherwell League Tier 6 sides.
Wharton then batted with great assurance to steer Horspath to 153-1 and a place in the final at Fringford on Sunday, August 20 against either Horley 2nd or Bledlow Ridge 2nd.
Risinghurst reached 61-2 with Sammy Parker (2-13) pegging them back, before Sharif worked his way through the order in a devastating spell.
He opened his tally with the last ball of his first over when he gratefully accepted a return catch to dismiss opener Michael Johnson for 24 and make it 72-3.
Sharif made it two wickets in as many balls at the start of his second over with Raj Kumar hitting a full toss into Parker's hands on the mid-wicket boundary.
After claiming a third victim, he again took two wickets in two balls with Stuart Berry pouching a skier at long on before Sharif completed his first five-wicket haul with a successful lbw appeal.
He wasn't finished, though, and made it six of the best when Wharton snapped up a chance behind the stumps to leave Risinghurst 137-8.
It was left to James Crosby (2-18) to polish off the innings with Justin Sammuller unbeaten on a breezy 29 from 26 balls, which included two sixes.
Wharton and Jonty Hedges got Horspath's run chase off to a brisk start, adding 49 off eight overs before the latter was bowled by Praneel Siliveru for 21.
Sharif then joined his captain in an unbroken second-wicket stand of 104 to see Horspath home with 12 overs to spare.
Wharton was the more fluent of the pair, making good use of the square cut as he rattled up 15 fours in his 92-ball knock.
He went to a fine half-century with a quick single to short fine leg and the runs kept flowing.
The Horspath captain brought up the century partnership with another run to fine leg, before Sharif (21no) lofted the next delivery to the long off boundary to clinch victory in style.