Banbury began the defence of their Home Counties Premier League Division 1 title with a well-earned win against last year's feeder league champions Slough at their superb new ground on Saturday.

Their opening victory was down to a stunning bowling peformance from all-rounder David Taylor.

David TaylorOn a pitch of uneven bounce, the home side began steadily, and were reasonably well placed at 81-4 at lunch.

But then Taylor entered the scene with devastating effect, capturing 5-12 in six overs to reduce Slough to 109-9.

The last-wicket pair of Khan and Uddin then frustratingly hung around for 16 overs, adding 16 runs, before Taylor returned to close the innings, finishing with career-best figures of 8-43.

The other wickets were shared by Ian Adams and Neal Radford.

Banbury's reply began alarmingly, the first three wickets falling inside seven overs for just 18 runs.

Openers Andrew Sabin and Craig Haupt went for six and three respectively, while Shahbaz Ali departed for four.

But then Mark Barratt (29) and Tim Smith (28) steadied the ship for Banbury by adding 53 in 18 overs for the fourth wicket.

After tea, Smith and Radford shared a stand of exactly 50 as the champions reached their target with five wickets and almost 20 overs to spare.

SLOUGH

R Mann c Radford b Adams...3

G Khan lbw Radford...13

S Naylor lbw Taylor...24

R Lane c Haupt b Taylor...35

M Shepherd b Taylor...17

M Fazal c Megson b Taylor...8

A Oram c Haupt b Taylor...3

T Lambert b Taylor...0

N Tilley not out...14

M Uddin lbw Taylor...2

R Khan b Taylor...5

Extras...9

Total (all out, 61 ov)...125

Fall: 1-7, 2-45, 3-56, 4-70, 5-92, 6-102, 7-102, 8-107, 9-109.

Bowling: Rorich 10-3-17-0, Adams 11-2-26-1, Taylor 21-5-43-8, Radford 17-8-36-1, Hill 2-0-2-0.

BANBURY

A Sabin c Tilley b Naylor...6

C Haupt b Naylor...3

S Ali b Fazal...4

T Smith c Shepherd b Lane ...28

M Barratt c Lane b Tilley...31

N Radford not out...32

D Taylor not out...0

Extras...24

Total (5 wkts, 40 ov)...126

Fall: 1-9, 2-18, 3-18, 4-71, 5-121.

Bowling: Naylor 8-0-28-2, Fazal 8.3-1-34-1, Lane 8-2-12-1, Lambert 4-1-20-2, R Khan 5-2-0-0, N Tilley 2-2-0-1, M Uddin 4-1-1-0.

** Slough 6pts, Banbury 25