npower Village Cup

Cumnor won the Oxfordshire final by two wickets in the most dramatic of circumstances last night to continue Horspath's heartache.

Horspath lost out at this stage for the past two seasons, but must have thought they had done it when Cumnor needed 70 off six overs with three wickets remaining.

Strike bowler Ayaz Khan smashed three massive sixes to give the visitors hope, but they still needed 48 off the final four overs.

Up stepped Cumnor captain Carl Thompson, who blasted sixes in each of the final two overs and then swept the winning four, which bounced over Andy Cummings's despairing dive.

Cumnor players, who had looked resigned to defeat just a few overs before, could barely disguise their glee as they ran on to the field to celebrate an incredible victory.

This was a match that truly ebbed and flowed.

Cumnor's decision to insert Horspath looked a good one as tidy seam bowling from Ayaz Khan and Thompson held the hosts to 24-1 in their first ten overs.

Hospath had only reached 63-1 at the half-way stage as they too often failed to take quick singles.

But an inspired final ten overs, which took the score from 109-3 to 207-6, gave them hope after captain Robbie Eason got things going with a series of boundaries.

His brother Will increased the tempo, but opener Ned Murray proved the mainstay.

Murray was finally caught in the deep by Umair Ghazali in the final over, having reached an impressive 96.

His innings, which included 12 fours and one six, thoroughly deserved to reach three figures.

Horspath's total should at least have ensured a decent contest, but no one could have predicted what was to follow With Graham Scott and Jimmy Nielsen both in good nick, Cumnor began their reply full of confidence.

The pair put on 54 before Scott was expertly caught by 16-year-old wicket-keeper Joe Todd and then Dan Gaunt looked well set when he came in.

Straight after the drinks break, Will Eason bowled Nielsen, but it was the introduction of Dave Heritage a few overs later that seemed to spark panic in the Cumnor ranks.

Murray superbly ran out Gaunt, while Dan Creed had little troubling securing the same dismissal for Jamie Douglas.

Cumnor were clearly rocked and their supporters feared the worst when Chris Penner clung on to a spectacular catch as dangerman Ali Morteza went for a six over mid wicket.

That was 135-6 and it got worse before Ayaz Khan and Thompson pulled off the great escape.

Horspath didn't help themselves by bowling 14 wides and Todd twice let through four byes off Will Eason, but Cumnor deserve great credit for winning a fantastic match that looked out of their reach.