Horspath Cricket Club

HUSSAAN Ahmad and Rayaan Dogar cracked half-centuries as Horspath 2nd stormed to a resounding 129-run win on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at home to Cropredy in a rain-affected Cherwell League Division 1 clash.
Ahmad made 67 from 84 balls, while Dogar racked up 64 off 80 deliveries in his first innings in the top flight to lead Horspath to 268-8 after they were put in to bat with the innings reduced to 42 overs by showers.
The pair, who hit ten fours apiece, put on 108 for the third wicket with Dogar the first to fifty with a single down to long off.
A sweep shot for four brought up Ahmad's second half-century of the season before Tejas Anand weighed in with a brisk 30 to steer the hosts towards their final total as Joseph Sparkes took 4-63.
With Cropredy's target revised to 250, the visitors were never in the hunt as they closed on 139-9 off 34 overs.
Opener Joe Fox made 37, but Horspath dominated with Tyrone Eyles bowling with good pace to take 3-26, while Joval Calix picked up 2-34.
The win keeps Horspath in third spot ahead of their final game at ninth-placed Tiddington on Saturday.
Horspath 3rd slipped to a 31-run defeat on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at home to relegation-threatened Oxenford as rain hit their Division 3A encounter.
The visitors posted 208 all out after being put in to bat. Adnan Khan (34) and skipper Ayyaz Mallick (31) shared an opening stand of 52, before Hayden Moon (2-43) made the breakthrough.
Oxenford were still well placed at 107-1 as Junaid Aziz chipped in with 26, but Josh Cummings produced a fine spell of 3-28 to peg them back.
With Jason Cardy (2-22) keeping things tight and Dan Todd picking up 2-20, the visitors' innings rather fell away.
Fresh from their success for Horspath in the Oxfordshire Under 19 Cup final, brothers Charlie (29) and Alfie Turner (27) set about chasing down a revised target of 205 following a rain break.
However, after they were dismissed, the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals with Waqas Mir (5-38) ripping through the top order.
Skipper Ryan Hicks (38) and Mohson Rana (24) kept Horspath's hopes alive with a stand of 51 for the eighth wicket, but with both falling to Muhammad Usman (3-22), the home side were bowled out for 177.
Horspath remain in seventh place, one spot above Oxenford, who move out of the bottom two. The side complete their campaign at ninth-placed Bletchley on Saturday.  
Horspath 4th's title challenge in Division 6A suffered a blow with their clash at Long Marston 2nd washed out with the visitors in a strong position at 142-3.
With promotion secured last Saturday before the side lifted the Steve Dixon Memorial Cup a day later, the side's focus was on taking another step towards completing the double.
Skipper Craig Wharton hit nine fours as he posted his fifth league half-century of the season with 57 off 68 balls to help get the leaders off to an impressive start.
He put on 109 for the first wicket with Adrian Manger (41), but after the pair were dismissed, the ground was hit by a torrential downpour forcing the match to be abandoned after 33 overs.
The side's disappointment was compounded by title rivals Watlington winning by one run on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at Bletchley Town 2nd to leapfrog Horspath at the top with an eight-point cushion.
Horspath will be hoping to turn things round in the final round of fixtures on Saturday when they entertain sixth-placed Bletchley, while Watlington are at home to Bledlow Ridge 2nd, who stand in eighth spot.