Captain Ryan Hicks came to the rescue with a brilliant 50 off 39 balls before Horspath 2nd triumphed in a super over after their Pullinger Cup first-round tie away to Witney Swifts ended in a thrilling tie.
Having restricted the Division 2A club to 106-9 in the Cherwell League's T20 competition for Tier 1 and 2 sides, Horspath's run chase got off to a disastrous start at the West Witney Sports & Social Club ground.
The visitors crashed to 11-5 and 40-7 as wickets fell around James Boden (23) to Ben Horne (3-17) and George Seacole (2-13), before Hicks, supported by Joe Gibbs, turned the innings round with a superb knock.
Six were required off the last over. The first two deliveries yielded a single and a wide, before Gibbs was bowled by captain Craig Wood for 10 after the pair had put on 63 for the eighth wicket.
Josh Cummings secured a single with three balls left to give Hicks the strike only for the captain to fall lbw after completing an excellent half-century, which included four fours and a six.
That left three needed to win off the last ball and in a thrilling finish Ed Oakley hit a two to leave the scores tied at 106-9.
The drama continued into the super over as Horspath posted 11, before Will Moore conceded just two, including a bye to the keeper, to leave the visitors victorious.
Moore had excelled earlier in Swifts' innings with 3-7 from his four overs, while Liam Turnbull and Oakley each picked up two wickets.
Now Horspath are at home to Cumnor, who received a bye, in the quarter-finals on Sunday, June 28.
Veterans Andy Cummings (4-10) and Adrian Manger (3-11) shone as Horspath 4th fought back to win a low-scoring Steve Dixon Memorial Cup first-round tie by 17 runs against Bledlow Ridge 2nd at the Recreation Ground.
The hosts were shot out for 85 after being put in to bat in the Cherwell's competition for Tier 6 sides.
But then Cummings and Manger, supported by Charan Voruganti (2-17), worked their magic to send Ridge tumbling to 68 all out with only captain Jovan Sahota (31) making double figures.
Eaqrlier, Ben Wise (20) had top-scored for Horspath as Mumford (5-12) and Tom Winson (3-3) did the damage.
Horspath are now away to Bradenham, who received a bye, in the quarter-finals on Sunday, July 12.
Horspath CC would like to thank the following 2026 Player Sponsors:
Amin Rafiq (STRONG Pilates Oxford)
Asad Rafiq (STRONG Pilates Oxford)
Will Eason (Oxford Marquees)
Josh Richardson (Steve Richardson)
Tyrone Eyles (Interduct UK Ltd)
Robbie Eason (ARB UK Ltd)
Tom Coleman (RJA & SL Coleman)
Ryan Hicks (Green & Wakefield)
Ehsan Hussain (RMA Properties)
Tom Nichols (Savona Foodservice)
Josh Cummings (Gardiners Opticians)