HORSPATH lifted the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup after a thrilling four-wicket victory over Oxford Downs in the final at Wormsley.

They won the cup in slightly contentious circumstances, however, as they were awarded six penalty runs with one over to spare as Downs had not completed their 20 overs in the allotted time.

Downs’ skipper George Sandbach hammered a spectacular unbeaten century before Will Eason’s men chased down a mammoth target of 194 with three balls to spare.

After losing Andrew Lake to the third ball of the game, Downs, who had been put in, were boosted by Sandbach’s chanceless innings.

Sandbach hit 15 fours and four sixes in his 129 not out, including two extraordinary reverse sweeps which went for maximums as Downs racked up 193-4 in their 20 overs.

Horspath’s reply needed to get off to a rapid start and Tom Cosford provided that, bludgeoning 52 from 18 balls.

Darryl Brown added 37, and although Sandbach took two wickets in two balls, Horspath kept going.

Shahbaz Ali chipped in with 29, before skipper Eason (29no) and Jamil Faruk (16) finished the job.

The six penalty runs reduced the last-over target from ten to four and Horspath knocked them off with three balls left.

In the Wilf Bennett Cup final, Banbury defeated Tiddington by 86 runs.

Richard Simpson hit 82 in Banbury’s 186-6, before Brad Taylor returned figures of 5-16 to help dismiss Tiddington for just 100.

The near-500 attendance saw a great day’s cricket.