Horspath were left to rue a missed opportunity as they slipped to a 16-run defeat at home to Harefield in Division 1.

Having dismissed the Middlesex club for 191 after they had elected to bat first, Horspath were well placed to claim victory at 104-3 from 24 overs.

But a series of poor shots saw them to slump to a disappointing 175 all out, despite being handed a massive 54 extras.

Harefield had made a bright start after taking first use of a decent-paced pitch, with last week’s century-maker Jalpesh Vijay and captain Simon Macey putting on 56 for the first wicket.

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Horspath skipper Will Eason made the breakthrough with Vijay caught at cover by Adam Price for 27, before then having Scott Friend caught behind by debutant Jasper Davies.

Eason (3-30) struck again by accepting a caught and bowled chance from Macey (38) to make it 85-3.

Pat Foster then removed Burham Mirza and Daniel Ogden with successive balls as Harefield tumbled to 111-5.

Price got in on the act with the wickets of Dhavalkumar Norotam and Robert Tidey, who top-scored with 49 off 60 balls, before Jamil Faruq and Lloyd Belcher mopped up the tail.

Robbie Eason was unlucky to be bowled early on by Doug King in Horspath’s reply.

But with Harefield’s wayward attack contributing 35 wides, the hosts had reached 71 when Jimmy Phillips was next out, lbw to Daniel Evans.

Opener Kit Cutter drove Evans (4-45) straight into Mirza’s hands at mid-on for 27, Adam Mould was caught behind by Jamie Knife off the same bowler, and a run later Shahbaz Ali was caught at cover to make it 104-5.

Davies fell to a smart one-handed catch by Knife, Price was trapped lbw by King and with wickets continuing to tumble Will Eason was left unbeaten on 22 with seven overs left.