Horspath bowed out of the Oxfordshire Senior T20 Cup on net run rate following a nine-wicket defeat at Challow & Childrey in their Pool 2 top-of-the-table clash.
Going into the final group game Horspath headed the section with the top two to qualify for the semi-finals.
But the loss saw Challow win the pool with 15 points, while Horspath dropped to third on net run rate after being joined on 14 points by Tiddington following their 34-run win at home to Thame Town.
Horspath looked to be heading for an imposing total when Tom Nichols with 57 off 44 balls, which included eight fours, and Tyron Eyles (44) shared a first-wicket stand of 101 inside 12 overs.
But Ryan Alahakon (3-26) pegged the visitors back with the two openers both stumped by Dylan Crees.
Despite a brisk 21 from Josh Richardson, the innings fell away to 169-7 with Blake Bint (2-24) picking up late wickets.
George Beard (66no) and Ryan Gordon (31) set Challow on course with 84 for the first wicket, before left-arm spinner Sam Leslie made the breakthrough courtesy of a Viv Narayan catch in the deep.
But that was to be the visitors' only success with Crees (63no) joining Beard in an unbroken second-wicket stand of 86 as Challow raced home at 170-1 with two overs to spare.
Beard's runs came off 50 deliveries and included five fours and two sixes, while Crees smashed three fours and five maximums in his 32-ball blitz.
The loss means Horspath will be unable to attempt to extend their run of four straight final appearances with Challow and Tiddington joined in the semi-finals on Tuesday, August 4 by Banbury and Oxford Downs from Pool 1.
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)