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Deadly Derval's 6-45 sets up Horspath win

24 Jun 2025

Seamer Derval Green produced a stunning spell of 6-45 to set Horspath on the way to a dominant five-wicket home win over Falkland in Home Counties Premier Cricket League Division 2.

The Jamaican international all-rounder's pace and swing proved too much for last season's Thames Valley League champions, who were shot out for 113 inside 27 overs after electing to bat.

He set the ball rolling in his second over by bowling Falkland skipper James Bird, who had made 146 in the win over Gerrards Cross a week earlier, with just nine on the board.

Asad Rafiq then struck twice in the same over, trapping Ben Piper lbw before Viv Narayan took a good low catch at third slip to dismiss Anthony Hennis, making it 24-3.

Opener Brandon Gilmour and Bobby Brown held last season's Cherwell League winners up, taking the score to 71 before the former was bowled by Green for 31.

Bowling unchanged from the bottom end, the West Indian wonder then dismissed Seb Chapman and Oliver Hamlin with successive deliveries as Falkland slumped to 81-6.

Skipper Amin Rafiq trapped Elliot Seddon lbw, before Green completed his five-wicket haul when Tom Nichols caught Ted Brown.

Horspath's overseas ace made it six of the best when he shattered Mark Otley's stumps.  

All this time Bobby Brown had remained defiant at the other end and reached his half-century in style with a six, before being the last man out when he fell to Narayan for 55 with Asad taking the catch at long off. He had faced 65 deliveries, hitting nine fours.

Green's superb haul came off 13 overs, while Asad finished with 2-23, Amin 1-26 and Narayan 1-6.

Horspath's route to victory, though, was far from straightforward with the bat.

Nichols and Narayan chipped in with 17 apiece before both were dismissed on the same score, leaving the hosts 44-3.

Stephen Green also made 17, while Derval Green smashed two fours and a six in making 14 off six balls before he was stumped by Ben Piper off Bobby Brown.

It was then left to Josh Richardson (15no) and Tom Coleman (14no) to see Horspath home at 116-5 off 28 overs.

A first win since the opening day victory at Bicester & North Oxford, it moves Horspath up to sixth before next Saturday's trip to Thame Town, who are eighth after being bowled out for 71 in an eight-wicket defeat at home to Chesham.

Match highlights are available by clicking here