HOLDERS Bicester and North Oxford overcame a tricky hurdle by beating fellow Adkin Cherwell League club Sandford St Martin by seven wickets in the first round.

Sandford's 73 never looked enough to test Bicester's powerful batting line-up and they cruised home in the 13th of their 20 overs.

Cumnor skipper Clive Ricks felt confident enough to reverse his batting order after bowling out Kingston Bagpuize for a paltry 68 - but then had a few anxious moments as six wickets went down before the target was reached.

Didcot and Horspath piled up the runs in their first-round clash, OCA League club Didcot setting a formidable target of 144 for the loss of only three wickets.

Andy Broughton and Jim Hitchman led the way with 63 and 57 respectively.

But the target proved well within reach for the Cherwell League club as Ian Pickford (56) and Dave Heritage (52 no) steered them home.

Joe Kelly starred with bat and ball for OCC Staff, but it was not enough to overcome Wallingford.

Martin Shepherd (59) top-scored in Wallingford's 137-3, Kelly taking all three wickets for 17. He then led the reply with 36, but his side fell 32 runs short.

RESULTS

Sandford 73 (A Hobbs 3-20), Bicester & North Oxford 74-3.

Kingston Bagpuize 68 (G Brown 3-22), Cumnor 70-6.

Didcot 144-3 (A Broughton 63, J Hitchman 57), Horspath 146-3 (I Pickford 56, D Heritage 52 no).

Wallingford 137-3 (M Shepherd 59, M Taylor 38, J Kelly 3-17), OCC Staff 105 (J Kelly 36).

Rover Cowley w/o Ewelme.

Playing tomorrow: Bletchingdon v Thame.

2nd round draw (June 23): Abingdon Vale v Oxford, Aston Rowant v Wallingford, Banbury v Chinnor, Bletchingdon or Thame v Ox Nondescripts, Chalgrove v Bicester & NO, Horspath v Cumnor, Rover Cowley v Banbury Twenty, Watlington v Kidlington.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.