Horspath crowned Oxfordshire champions in Village Cup

Brilliant centuries from Viv Narayan and Tom Nichols allied to a devastating spell of bowling by Asad Rafiq saw Horspath crowned Oxfordshire area champions in the Voneus Village Cup for the fourth time in five years with a 228-run romp against Aston Rowant at the Recreation Ground.

Narayan smashed 137 from 89 balls and Nichols hammered 109 off 98 deliveries to take Horspath to a massive 312-5 off 40 overs after they elected to bat in the regional final, before Asad ripped through the visitors’ batting to return stunning figures of 6-21.

It was a ruthless fourth-round display from the hosts, who were winning the area crown for a third successive year and the eighth time in total.

Now Horspath go into the last 32 of the national rounds with the next step on the road to Lord’s a home tie against Gloucestershire champions Painswick, who edged past Marshfield by 13 runs, on Sunday, June 22.

Nichols and fellow opener Tyron Eyles (19) got Horspath off to a swift start in front of a 200-plus crowd. They put on 48 inside eight overs before Eyles got an inside edge to Lewis North and wicket-keeper Jamie Revill took the catch at the second attempt.
But then Narayan joined Nichols and the pair proceeded to plunder boundaries in a thrilling second-wicket stand of 231.

Narayan, who struck five sixes, was the first to reach 100 when he whipped a four – one of his 16 boundaries – through mid-wicket.
Nichols followed him to three figures two overs later with a neat cut down to third man for a single.

Their partnership was finally broken when Nichols, who hit eight fours and fives sixes, was bowled by Jacob Eaton to leave Horspath 269-2.

Narayan followed 11 runs later when he lofted a drive off Eaton, who emerged from the run spree with creditable figures of 4-59, to North at long off.
Stephen Green chipped in with a breezy 18 to take Horspath past 300 as the hosts posted what is believed to be their highest score in the competition.
Asad then took centre stage with his pace blowing away Rowant’s top order as the visitors crashed to 25-4. He completed his five-wicket haul when Liam Hester edged into George Crawford’s gloves, and made it six of the best with Ben Knowler also caught behind before the end of his eight-over spell.

There was no way back for Rowant and, with Liam Turnbull taking 2-7, they were shot out off 22.5 overs.

Scores: Horspath 312 for 5 (40ovs, V Narayan 137, T Nichols 109, J Eaton 4-59), Aston Rowant 84 (22.5ovs, Asad Rafiq 6-21).