HORSPATH beat Great & Little Tew by virtue of losing fewer wickets after the sides ended on tied scores in a thrilling Home Counties Premier League Twenty20 quarter-final at the Recreation Ground on Monday.

Now Horspath will join Henley, Harefield and reigning HCPL T20 champions High Wycombe on finals day at Burnham on Sunday, July 23.

Needing ten off the last over to overhaul the hosts’ 155-6 after electing to bowl first, Tew looked set for victory when Lloyd Brock smashed Will Eason’s third delivery for a straight six after the visitors had picked up singles from the first two balls.

A dot ball followed, before Brock skied the penultimate delivery and Mark Jefferson, running in from deep cover point, dived full length to take a brilliant catch inches from the ground.

Brock had made a blistering 53 from 29 balls, including three sixes and five fours.

That left Tew having lost six wickets like Horspath, but in the knowledge that if the scores finished tied they would lose as the hosts had a higher score at the end of the sixth over.

With two runs, therefore, required off the last ball, Markus Jeacock was run out going for a second run, leaving Tew on 155-7.

Scores: Horspath 155-6 (20 ovs, M Jefferson 56no, T Coleman 47), Great & Little Tew 155-7 (20 ovs, Lloyd Brock 53, C Slatter 51). Horspath won by losing fewer wickets.

CUMNOR will host Aston Rowant in the Oxfordshire final of the Pipers Crisps Village Cup after they saw off visitors Shipton-under-Wychwood by six wickets.

Shipton, twice winners of the national competition, got off to a flying start as Charlie Miller and Charlie Brain shared a quickfire stand of 46.

But the introduction of Alex Davies and Harry Ackland turned the game around, the duo taking 3-14 and 3-26 respectively as Shipton fell from 67-1 to 144 all out.

Cumnor opener Jimmy Lee led his side’s reply with an excellent 68 not out, an innings containing nine fours as Cumnor cruised in at 145-4 with 12 overs to spare.

Rowant were too strong for visitors Oxford Downs in the other semi-final, running out victors by 105 runs.

The hosts opted to bat first, and, thanks to 87 from Chris Watling and 84 from Alex Ferreira, racked up 261-5 in their 40 overs.

Youngster Ferreira punished the Downs attack, his innings coming from 56 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

Downs never got close, with Tom Brine, Alex Chapman, Adam Muttitt and Watling taking two wickets apiece.

James Lauder top-scored with 36, while George Sandbach chipped in with 29.

But Downs were bowled out for 156 by the home side, who will face off with Cumnor at Park Field on Sunday, June 11.