Robbie Eason and Jimmy Phillips hit half-centuries as Horspath beat Chesham by seven wickets to regain the winning thread and go second in Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2.

Chasing Chesham’s 218-9 after the visitors had won the toss and decided to bat, Horspath eased home with plenty of time to spare.

Eason led the way with 64 before being run out by a direct hit from fine leg to the bowler’s end as he went for a second.

His runs came off 107 balls, with nine fours and two straight sixes.

Left-hander Phillips then maintained the momentum.

After a steady start, he blossomed with some classy boundaries, making 62 from 90 balls with nine fours and a six, before he was caught at point off Matt Rance.

It was then left to Shahbaz Ali to steer Horspath home with an unbeaten 37, which included seven fours, before Andy Wynd hit the winning boundary.

Oxford Mail:

Horspath skipper Will Eason flicks the ball on to the stumps, but the Chesham batsman stands his ground and umpire Don Brooks gives not out

Earlier, Horspath, whose run chase was aided by 26 byes, had produced a good display in the field to hold Chesham in check.

Fiery Pat Foster spearheaded the home attack with 3-60, while skipper Will Eason took the important wicket of University of New South Wales all-rounder James Day, courtesy of a smart offside stumping by Andy Wynd.

Stand-in skipper Barnaby Atkins made a patient 54 at the top of the order off 121 balls with six fours, while Matt Rance hit a fluent 51 from 60 balls with eight fours.

But Jamil Faruq and Lloyd Belcher picked up two wickets apiece, and South African Dean Conradie showed the benefit of some intensive work in the nets with former Oxfordshire off-spinner Paul Jeacock to produce his best spell for several weeks, taking 1-13 off five overs.