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Poignant times at Horspath's Village Cup win

07 May 2024

Horspath opened the defence of their Oxfordshire area crown in the Voneus Village Cup with a commanding 70-run victory at home to Minster Lovell after a poignant moment before the first-round tie.
The two teams were joined on the square by around 100 Horspath members for a minute's applause in memory of Max Eason, who passed away suddenly on March 2, aged 76.
It was a fitting tribute as Max was 'Mr Horspath Cricket' and spent much of his life on the Recreation Ground. In an association of nearly 60 years with the club, he was a player, captain and groundsman together with his off-the-field work, which over time included the roles of chairman, secretary, fixture secretary, youth cricket manager and bar manager.
With Horspath president Denis Walker announcing 'let's play' as the applause died down, the hosts stuttered to 46-3 after being put in to bat on a slow-paced pitch as seamer James Mutton produced a fine spell of 3-22 from his eight overs.
But Robbie Eason and Stephen Green showed a good appreciation of the situation and the conditions to dig in and share a match-winning fourth-wicket stand of 78.
Horspath were 61-3 after 20 overs and the experienced pair, while riding their luck at times, steadily picked up the tempo.
They took the score to 124-3 at the start of the 34th over when Eason was caught at long off by Callum Ardron off Harry Ebsworth (1-22) for 38.
Green brought up a fine half-century with a single down to the same boundary off the last ball of the 39th over.
He added his sixth four to go with one six before holing out at deep square leg to Tom Pollard off Minster captain Olly Mersh from the next delivery to fall for 54 from 84 balls.
Josh Richardson ensured the innings finished with a flourish as Horspath picked up 15 runs off the last over to post a challenging 166-7.
Minster reached 42-1 in their run chase, before Horspath's bowlers got stuck into the visitors to send them crashing to 96 all out.
Off-spinner Amin Rafiq sparked the collapse with skipper Will Eason running back from slip to take a juggling catch to hang on to a top edge from opener James Mattinson.
Jehan Mohammed (2-25) then struck twice in an over. Will Eason (3-26) and Richardson tightened the screw with wickets in four consecutive overs to make it 91-8.
And victory was secured when Richardson claimed his third victim to finish with 3-3 as Minster were bowled out inside 29 overs.
Now Horspath are at home to Stanton Harcourt, who upset Cumnor on run rate after their tie ended prematurely due to rain, in the second round on Sunday.