RICHARD Cook hit an unbeaten half-century to steer Aston Rowant to a four-wicket win at Horspath in their Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2 West derby.

The former Didcot all-rounder came to the crease with Rowant in deep trouble at 17-4 in reply to Horspath’s 105 all out after Will Eason’s terrific opening burst claimed three early victims.

But Cook remained calm in a crisis and with Oxfordshire batsman Chris Watling, he put on 73 for the fifth wicket.

When Watling was caught by Jimmy Phillips off left-arm spinner Adam Krol for 31 with the score on 90, Rowant were almost home.

Krol trapped Rowant skipper Wesley Morrick lbw, but Cook finished unbeaten on 55 for his second Home Counties half-century of the season, clinching victory off 31.5 overs.

With overnight rain having got under the covers, and the decision taken to use a neighbouring dry strip, the toss was always likely to prove crucial.

And so it proved as Horspath collapsed after being put in to bat in the face of some excellent Rowant seam bowling with Morrick (4-31) and Karl Penhale (3-38) doing most of the damage.

Opener Matt O’Connor was the only home batsman to offer any resistance, hitting his maiden Home Counties half-century, while his teammates perished at the other end.

The left-hander’s 51 provided almost half of Horspath’s total before he was the ninth wicket to fall, caught by Tim Morgan in the slips off Morrick with the score on 96.

Horspath’s 105 from 49.5 overs was always unlikely to be enough, and although Rowant’s top order folded to Will Eason (3-37), Cook proved the match-winner.