JIMMY Phillips hit a maiden Home Counties half-century before Horspath’s Division 2 West clash at home to bottom club Dinton was washed out.

The former Challow & Childrey left-hander made a classy unbeaten 68 to take Horspath to 180-2 after they had been put in to bat and seen their innings reduced to 43 overs by several rain breaks.

Dinton had received just two balls in reply when one final deluge ended the game.

Earlier, openers Matt O’Connor and Ned Murray rode their luck with the ball nipping about to put on 57 for Horspath’s first wicket, before the former was bowled by seamer Nheem Amin for 21.

Murray was the only other wicket to fall for 32.

Phillips, with ten fours and a six, excelled with his straight driving to take Horspath to their final total, as left-arm spinner Shakil Ahmad had a rare wicketless day.

Dinton had 36 overs to chase the runs, but their innings had barely got under way when the heavens opened again.

HORSPATH M O’Connor b Amin 21 N Murray lbw Aziz 32 J Phillips not out 68 R Eason not out 18 Extras 41 Total (2 wkts, 43 ovs) 180 Fall: 1-57, 2-105.

Bowling: Amin 12-3-36-1, Bowler 8-1-30-0, Aziz 11-0-41-1, Ahmed 12-2-51-0.

DINTON M Sutcliffe not out 0 A Smith not out 0 Extras 0 Total (no wkt, 0.2 ovs) 0 Bowling: W Eason 0.2-0-0-0.

l Horspath 6pts, Dinton 6