Twelve months on from an agonising 14-run defeat away to the Devon & Cornwall area winners in the last 16, Horspath were foiled again at the same stage after being restricted to 127-9 off 40 overs on choosing to bat. It always looked a below par total and despite a spirited bowling display, the Roadies captain Tom Orpe hit an unbeaten 56 to steer his side to victory at 131-5 with three overs to spare. READ AGAIN: Horspath face huge round trip after rain abandonment The Oxfordshire champions embarked on the 500-mile round trip to the club near St Austell after the original tie at Horspath was abandoned following a massive deluge during the tea interval with the hosts having made 179 all out.
Batting first again, Horspath struggled to break the shackles of an accurate home attack, but at 88-3 had a platform to launch a late onslaught in the last 10 overs. However, it never materialised as six wickets fell for the addition of just 39 runs, including Stephen Green, who top-scored with a valiant 44. Tom Fox-Dean (3-25) led the way for the Cornwall Cricket League County Division 1 leaders well supported by fellow spinners Alex Lean (2-29) and David Neville (2-31).
Paceman Asad Rafiq (2-22) gave Horspath hope by reducing the hosts to 17-2. Oxford United fans can take advantage of an offer of £4 for four months or more than 40 per cent off an annual subscription via the July flash sale #oufc https://t.co/90RAY6DBI9 But Orpe and Lean steadied the ship for the Roadies, taking the scor.