Horspath Cricket Club secure league and cup double in one weekend

The team secured the league title with a 79-run victory at Aston Rowant 2nd on Saturday, August 31, before a nine-run win at home against Didcot a day later landed them the cup.

The title triumph, which adds to Horspath’s championships in 2010 and 2013, means the club are in line to be invited to re-join the Home Counties Premier League after just one season away.

Stephen Green and Robbie Eason starred with the bat for Horspath as they secured the title.

After Eason opened with 68 runs, Green hit 77 not out as the pair put on an unbeaten 88 for the fourth wicket, taking Horspath to a total of 245-7.

The home side were then bowled out for 166 with leg-spinner Viv Narayan, who finished with figures of 4-28, wrapping up the innings.

Thad Cooper and Jack Veal took Rowant to 80-1 before Horspath took three quick wickets to make it 88-4.

Sasha Barras hit a defiant 45, before becoming one of Narayan’s four victims.

The day also saw singer Lulu make an appearance as she walked around the ground to the second pitch where her son and grandson, Jordan and Edward Frieda, were playing for Aston Rowant 4th,

Horspath completed their double triumph on Sunday, winning the Pullinger Cup Finals Day, the inaugural T20 competition for Tier 1 and 2 sides, held at the Recreation Ground.

Amin Rafiq with the Pullinger Cup and man of the match trophyAmin Rafiq with the Pullinger Cup and man of the match trophy (Image: Horspath CC)

The hosts looked to be up against it after being restricted to 117-9 having chosen to bat in the decider against Didcot.

Narayan smashed 28 off 19 balls at the top of the order, but after he was run out by a direct hit from wicket-keeper Jacob Townsend, the innings fell away as Ryan Greyvenstein took 3-13 and skipper Ceri Holmes 2-19.

But Horsparth captain Amin Rafiq went with an all-spin attack, restricting Didcot to 108-4.

The south Oxfordshire side got off to a terrible start when Baltej Tattla was run out off the first ball, and it was not long before Didcot found themselves 34-4.

Despite an unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 74 between Nicholas Tindall and Sam Hepke, they were unable to get going against Horsparth’s spin.

Horspath had beaten Banbury 2nd by 65 runs in the semi-final, with Dougal Main blasting 57 off 30 balls and Dan Todd hammering 48 from 21 deliveries.

Didcot, meanwhile, had overcome Oxford Downs 2nd by four wickets to reach the final.

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