A Home Counties Premier Cricket League club record last-wicket stand of 87 between Liam Turnbull (43) and Sam Leslie (35no) couldn't save Horspath from a 71-run reverse against local rivals Oxford at the Recreation Ground.
The pair came together with the hosts spiralling to defeat at 112-9 in the Division 2 encounter after the title-chasing visitors had posted 270-8 having decided to bat.
However, Turnbull and Leslie showed fight to salvage some respectability from the clash with a terrific partnership as the format returned to white ball cricket.
They stormed past Horspath's previous best for the last wicket of 37 set by Asad Rafiq (27) and Jehan Mohammed (13no) against Oxford last season, before bringing up the 50 stand off just 38 balls.
Turnbull, who also featured in Horspath's other record stand this season when sharing an unbroken partnership of 84 with Asad for the ninth wicket against Chesham, set the tone with a six early on.
And Leslie was quick to follow his example with two mighty blows to clear the ropes at either end of the ground in consecutive overs.
They frustrated the visitors for 12.2 overs and had moved the score on to 199 when Turnbull was given out caught behind by Josh Towell off Oxford University captain and former Horspath off-spinner Saqlain Choudhary.
Their partnership was in stark contrast to what had gone before as Horspath slumped to 37-5 with Brad Taylor (3-51) and Dylan Swanepoel (2-22) doing the early damage.
Tom Coleman and captain Amin Rafiq attempted to reset the innings only to fall in quick succession and the game was up at 79-8.
Turnbull joined Mohammed then, adding 33 for the ninth wicket before the latter became one of four victims behind the stumps for Josh Towell with Julian Laird the successful bowler.
That set the scene for Leslie and Turnbull to provide some consolation for the home supporters before Oxford eventually secured victory.
The visitors' challenging total had been built on an opening stand of 55 between Gaajuran Ganagabalan (62) and Towell (22) before Mohammed had the wicket-keeper/batsman stumped by Connor Wardlaw.
Ganagabalan added 76 for the second wicket with Julian Laird (45) with Amin (2-33) accounting for the pair.
With Josh Richardson (2-48) removing Jack Hobbs and Finn McKeown, Oxford were 192-5.
But after Brendon Smith made 47, Choudhary smashed 37 off 20 balls to drive the visitors towards their final total.
Horspath remain seventh ahead of Saturday's trip to bottom club Chesham, whose 140-run defeat at Stoke Green confirmed their relegation.
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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)