HOSTS Horspath made the wait for the much-delayed 2020 Oxfordshire Under 19 Cup final worthwhile with a dramatic one-wicket win over holders Aston Rowant in a last-ball thriller.

With the later stages of the T20 competition held over until this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and the rescheduled finals day washed out in July, the decider had been a long time in the making.

But the two sides served up a terrific contest for the Honey-’B’ Trophy, named in memory of the late Horspath player Morris Honey.

Having put Rowant in to bat and restricted them to 133-8, Horspath looked up against it after opener Alfie Turner fell for 34.

But Luke Heritage (33no) and Joe Gibbs kept them in with a chance after they had been 96-8.

Horspath required 12 off the last over, with two wickets left.

Gibbs was unable to score off the first delivery, but then hit the next for six over long on.

He then departed for a run-a-ball 20 as he stretched to chop Eliot Hyman’s delivery back to the bowler, bringing last man Josh Cummings to the crease.

A wide meant Horspath needed five off the last three, and when Cummings got an edge to the next delivery it flew past the wicket-keeper for four.

There was no run from the penultimate ball, but Cummings squeezed the last delivery out to point and the pair scampered through for the winning single to see Horspath home at 134-9.

Rowant paceman Hayden Rossouw took 2-1 from his four overs at the start of the innings, while Jamie Revill picked up 3-22 in the closing overs.

Heritage (3-19) and Gibbs (3-18), supported by some excellent catching, had earlier bowled well to peg Rowant back after Tristan Rossouw (43) and captain Oli Shaw (29) shared a stand of 64 for the third wicket.

Horspath will defend the trophy at the Recreation Ground on Sunday on 2021 finals day.

They face Banbury in the semi-finals at 11am, while Hook Norton take on Cumnor, with the final in the afternoon.