ANUPAM Sanklecha’s five-wicket haul propelled Shipton-under-Wychwood to a 69-run victory over Horspath in a rain-affected Division 2 match at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.

The Indian seamer has come into his own since the format switched from the limited overs matches to a time game, allowing him to bowl more than the maximum of ten.

And the 31-year-old produced another terrific display to pick up 5-56 off 17 overs as second-placed Horspath were dismissed for a paltry 122 in reply to the visitors’ 191 after the hosts elected to field first.

Bowling at a brisk pace, and moving the ball both ways, Sanklecha profited from a loose shot by Robbie Eason to make the early breakthrough for Shipton.

Jimmy Phillips was then trapped lbw by George Seacole, and when Sanklecha nipped one back to bowl Shahbaz Ali two balls before tea, Horspath were in big trouble at 22-3.

Seacole claimed his second victim when Mark Skelton was caught at short cover by Simon Hole, before Horspath opener Kit Cutter was joined by Andy Wynd.

They took the score to 95, but Wynd then picked out Sanklecha at mid-on off the bowling of Charlie Brain, who then encouraged Dean Conradie to hole out to Tim Senior on the cover boundary.

Sanklecha, having taken 2-39 in his first spell, then returned to polish off Horspath with 3-17 in his second.

He beat Mohson Rana with a delivery which kept low, got one to move away and hit Will Eason’s off stump, before having Jamil Faruq caught behind by Jeremy Kirby.

All this time, Cutter had shown tremendous application to try and keep Shipton at bay.

Attempting to keep the strike, he played the ball down to short third man for a single.

But fittingly it was Sanklecha, who moved smartly to his left, before throwing into wicket-keeper Jeremy Kirby with his right arm to run out last man Lloyd Belcher with 2.1 overs to spare and spark Shipton’s celebrations.

It meant Cutter’s valiant effort, which had seen him carry his bat for an unbeaten 40 off 161 balls, was in vain.

Earlier, a delayed start due to a shower and two further rain breaks had seen the overs reduced to a 49-43 split.

But Horspath having had Shipton 56-3 – with Rana taking 1-9 off seven overs – let the visitors get away later in their innings, with dropped catches not helping their cause.

Shaun Cross made 41, before Hole stepped up the pace with 49 off 68 balls, which included three sixes and a four, as Horspath spinners Conradie and Belcher were unable to stem the flow of runs, despite picking up two wickets apiece.

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