Horspath skipper Will Eason praised the consistency of leading batsman Jimmy Phillips and strike bowler Pat Foster ahead of their all-Oxfordshire Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2 clash at home to Great & Little Tew tomorrow.

Eason’s side have surprised themselves with the success they have enjoyed this season, and with six games to play stand second, just three points behind leaders Reading.

Much of that is down to Phillips (pictured) and Foster, who destroyed Cove with a seven-wicket spell.

“Jimmy’s batting superbly and has got three fifties in the last three weeks,” said Eason.

“Pat’s so consistent and believes, like me, in keeping it tight and putting batsmen under pressure.”

Victory could put Horspath top.

“We’re not worried about that at this stage,” added Eason.

Despite their releative positions in the league, it was Tew who won the first contest between the sides this season, when Horspath were without Foster.

“Tew have underperformed a little this season, and are in a false position,” said the Horspath skipper.

Shahbaz Ali and Lloyd Belcher return to the team in place of Kit Cutter and Jehan Mohammed.

Tew, meanwhile, make two changes, with Jordan Garrett and Robbie Shurmer replacing Markus Jeacock and Matt Clark Shipton-under-Wychwood are still looking anxiously over their shoulder, even after their outstanding four-wicket win overs leadersa reading last week has consolidated their third position.

“Our target at the start of the season was to stay in the league,” said skipper Simon Hole.

“The league’s so tight, that I reckon we need one more win to be safe.

The game marked Joe Barrett’s first league century for Shipton, the 18-year-old left-hander having scored lots of runs for Gloucestershire 2nd and Oxfordshire under 17 this season.

Barrett took some of the headlines away from their overseas player Anupam Sanklecha, who took four wickets and scored an unbeaten fifty at the death to clinch victory.

Shipton, who visit in-form Amersham, make two changes with Calvin Dickinson and Jack Davies coming in for Ross Barrett and Craig Wood.

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