TEENAGER Josh Richardson smashed a six off the last ball to give Horspath a thrilling one-wicket win at Tiddington in an incredible finish to the Oxfordshire final of the Voneus Village Cup.

With three needed to win off the final delivery, the 18-year-old took a couple of strides down the pitch before sweetly striking the ball to snatch an amazing victory.

Richardson had also hit the first ball of the last over for six as Horspath – needing 11 to win at that stage with two wickets left – edged closed to Tiddington’s 153-8 after the hosts had elected to bat.

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He was unable to score off the next ball from off-spinner Bradley Rose, who had bowled superbly to concede just 20 from his previous seven overs, before driving the third delivery down to long off for a single.

Horspath skipper Will Eason was then caught by Matt Weeks at deep mid-wicket before last man Subhan Javaid secured a single to fine leg off the penultimate delivery, leaving Richardson to settle the fourth round tie in the most sensational fashion and see the visitors home at 157-9.

On the road to Lord’s, Horspath now go forward to the national rounds, with a home tie against Avon and Somerset champions Wembdon on June 18.

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Horspath had struggled to keep up with the run rate on a slow-paced pitch against an accurate Tiddington attack, who held the visitors in check with 16-year-old leg-spinner Louis Stanfield producing an outstanding spell to finish with 5-37 from his eight overs.

Robbie Eason battled away for 26, before Stephen Green gave the innings impetus with a well-made 34, but when he became Will Goodman’s fourth stumping with Rose taking the wicket, Horspath were up against it at 131-8 with 15 balls left.

Will Eason kept their hopes alive by hitting a full toss for six into the netting on the mid-wicket boundary by the houses, in the penultimate over, before Richardson emerged as Horspath’s hero in the pulsating finale.

Stanfield was the pick of Tiddington’s attack with Ryan Chapman (2-19) and Rose (2-34) also returning commendable figures.

Earlier, Tiddington had been in trouble at 3-2, before captain Archie Davis and Nathan Brooks rebuilt the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 57.

Davis continued to frustrate the visitors, making 68 off 92 balls with nine fours, while Javaid (4-40) was Horspath’s most successful bowler, well supported by Richardson (2-30) and Amin Rafiq, who produced an excellent spell of 1-16 from his eight overs.