Sravan Konidena and Derval Green shone with half-centuries but it wasn't enough to prevent Horspath falling to a six-wicket defeat against Gerrards Cross in Home Counties Premier Cricket League Division 2 at the Recreation Ground.
Konidena, who made 104 in a 27-run at the Bucks club earlier this season, proved a thorn in the visitors' side again with 59 at the top of the order as Horspath posted 256-8 after being put in to bat.
And Green continued his good form by weighing in with a fluent 51 to help power Horspath to a challenging total.
However, the hosts were unable to make much impact with the ball as Cross opener Chris Marrow hit an unbeaten 108 to steer his side to victory at 257-4.
Konidena added to his century against Cross in May with his third fifty of the campaign in an opening stand of 91 with Tyron Eyles.
He went to his half-century with the second of three consecutive fours, before their partnership was broken when Eyles was caught at slip by the tumbling Henry Walsh off James Pannett.
Konidena's 77-ball knock, which included seven boundaries, ended two runs later as captain Teddy Fleming took the first of two wickets as Horspath faltered at 95-3.
Green and Robbie Eason set about repairing the damage, taking the hosts to lunch at 153-3.
The Jamaican all-rounder was striking the ball well with seven fours and two sixes, and with Eason digging in they added 74 for the fourth wicket.
Green had just completed his fifth half-century of the season when his 31-ball blitz was cut short when he was caught behind by George Harvey off Liam Sullivan.
Eason made 31 before he was bowled by James Pannett to leave Horspath 196-7, before captain Amin Rafiq (31no) and Jehan Mohammed (24) upped the tempo in an eighth-wicket stand of 58 to take the hosts to their final total.
Fleming (3-52), Sullivan (3-69) and James Pannett (2-46) were the Cross wicket-takers.
Horspath's bowlers were unable to secure an early breakthrough as Marrow and Henry Walsh put on 104 for the first wicket.
Walsh was the more aggressive, bringing up his fifty with his second six to add to seven fours only to be bowled by Sam Leslie just before the tea interval for 54 off 50 balls.
Marrow, who used the sweep shot to great effect, completed his half-century after the resumption and Cross had moved on to 148 when Amin bowled Matthew Pannett for 17.
Mohammed provided further success for Horspath by shattering Harvey's stumps for 17 to make it 187-3, but Marrow and Fleming then added 60 for the fourth wicket.
The South African opener completed his century with a trademark sweep for four, before Konidena ended their partnership when he pulled into Green's hands for 36.
But by then Cross were almost there and they got over the line with Marrow's 150-ball innings including 14 fours.
Despite the defeat, Horspath move up a place to sixth ahead of Saturday's trip to Stoke Green, who were shot out for 68 in a nine-wicket defeat at Datchet.
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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)