HORSPATH will open the defence of their Oxfordshire regional title in the Voneus Village Cup with a potentially tricky tie at Minster Lovell in the first round on Sunday, April 28.
Having been crowned county champions for the second time in three years before going on to reach the last 16 in the 2023 national rounds, the club were paired with the Cherwell League Division 2 side in today's draw at Lord's.
Eighteen clubs line up in Oxfordshire (Group 19). There are two preliminary-round ties, with the section eclipsed only by Hampshire and North Yorkshire (North) with 19 entries apiece.
The first-round draw, conducted by The Cricketer’s managing director Jim Hindson and magazine editor Huw Turbervill, also sees Tiddington, national runners-up in 1995, at home to Shipton-under-Wychwood, national champions in 2002 and 2003.
Horspath lifted the county crown in thrilling fashion last season with Josh Richardson hitting a six off the last ball to secure a dramatic one-wicket win at Tiddington.
The side then defeated Somerset champions Wembdon by 76 runs at the Recreation Ground with Robbie Eason hitting a brilliant 102 not out while sharing in an exhilarating unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 171 with Max Smith (80no).
Horspath's terrific run came to an end, though, with an agonizing 14-run defeat at Devon & Cornwall champions Grampound Road.
This year 356 clubs will set off on the road to Lord's in the 53rd edition of the national knockout. Meigle’s 250-mile round trip to Bute County is the first match on Scottish soil, while Penzance are the most southern-based side.
There are 25 former winners (from a possible 36) in the draw, including defending champions Milford Hall (West Midlands), who are at home to Worfield in round three as they bid to become just the sixth team to win back-to-back titles.
The Staffordshire side defeated Leeds & Broomfield (Kent) by 10 runs in a low-scoring final at the home of cricket last September.
OXFORDSHIRE (GROUP 19)
Preliminary round (April 14): Hook Norton v Sandford St Martin, Kingston Bagpuize v Aston Rowant.
1st round (April 28): Hook Norton or Sandford St Martin v Challow & Childrey, Kingston Bagpuize or Aston Rowant v Langford, Cropredy v Oxford Downs, Great & Little Tew v Horley, Tiddington v Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts v The Baldons, Minster Lovell v Horspath, Stanton Harcourt v Cumnor.