AUSTRALIAN Andrew Hicks smashed an unbeaten 100 off 59 balls as leaders Aston Rowant handed out a seven-wicket hiding to Challow & Childrey.

Chasing Challow's 170-8 which included 53 from Ian Demain Hicks powered Rowant to 174-3 with his innings including six sixes and 13 fours.

Aston Rowant 30pts, Challow & Childrey 10

Michael Thomas took 6-27 as Banbury Twenty stayed hot on Rowant's heels with a four-wic- ket win at home to Oxford 2nd.

The visitors' decision to bat first looked ill-advised when Thomas used the breeze to produce prodigious swing and reduced them to 82 all out. Left-arm spinner Steve Hart also bowled well to take 3-21.

But Oxford would not lie down and Graham Charlesworth (5-35) had the home side in trouble on 45-5 before Thomas (20 no) saw Twenty to 83-6.

Banbury Twenty 30, Oxford 2nd 9

Oxford Downs were bowled out in the 49th over for 243 just six runs short of a notable victory at home to Buckingham Town.

Bryn Jones (58) and Daniel Harris (65) took Buckingham to 248-8, Charlie Sutton returning 4-58.

Wes Bartlett (41) looked like he may have set up a successful run chase, but Greg Pearson took 5-22 and Mark Wingfield Digby was left stranded on 57 not out when Downs were all out.

Buckingham lost two points for a slow over rate.

Oxford Downs 18, Buckingham Town 28

An incredible 599 runs were scored at Shipton-under-Wychwood, whose game with Banbury 2nd ended in a draw.

Steve Bates smashed 134, while Andy Hemming hit 96 in Shipton's 334-4.

Paul Hemming took 4-107 from 19 overs as the home side then tried to spin their way to victory.

But Danny Harding (82), Andrew Sabin (44) and Ashley Pearson (34) earned Banbury a draw as they closed on 265-7.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 17, Banbury 2nd 14

Milton Keynes Park, last year's runners-up, finally secured a win, but were made to fight hard for it at Dinton.

Nick Packard took 6-62 for Park as the home side struggled to 162 all out in the 50th over.

James Ward hit 37 in Park's reply and, despite wickets falling to Mark Ludlow (3-30), they scrambled to a four-wicket win.

Dinton 13, Milton Keynes Park 30