SIXTEEN-year-old Jamie Perkin became one of the youngest players to hit a century in the top flight when he hammered 106 for Oxford Downs at Oxford 2nd on Saturday.

The youngster plundered his runs from just 82 balls and with captain Chris Sandbach making a rather more sedate 37, Downs racked up 252-6.

Half-centuries from Todd Hutcheson (56) and Patrick Stern (53) in a 102-run partnership gave Oxford an outside chance of chasing down victory, but Goolam Bhayat (3-43) helped restrict them to 209-6.

Oxford 2nd 15pts, Oxford Downs 16

Aussie Andrew Hicks hit a ton for the second week running to keep his Aston Rowant side top.

Hicks stroked his way to 110 and with Tim Morgan (57) added 128 in 31 overs for the second wicket in Rowant's 224-4 against Shipton.

Earlier, visitors Shipton had been indebted to skipper Steve Bates's 87 as they closed on 223-6.

Aston Rowant 30, Shipton 14

Draw specialists Banbury Twenty almost slipped to a shock defeat at home to Dinton but clung on for a share of the spoils.

After choosing to bat, Dinton managed 219-7, thanks in the main to 72 from Paul Atkins. Twenty's slow over rate cost them one point.

Captain John Wright led the way in the home side's reply, but despite his 79 and a handy 46 from Australian Andrew Grubich, Twenty were reduced to 194-9 by Neil Spicer (4-24).

Banbury Twenty 14, Dinton 18

Challow & Childrey sunk further into the mire when they suffered a hammering a the hands of Banbury 2nd.

Glynn Lumb (57), Alex Lynch (48no) and Mark Podbery (38) helped Challow to 202-5.

But their total proved well below par as Ian Tew hit 78 and Ed Phillips 52 not out in a second-wicket partnership of 104 for Banbury, who won duly by eight wicket with 12 overs to spare.

Challow 11, Banbury 2nd 30

Milton Keynes Park are up to second after winning a tense derby with Buckingham Town by 14 runs in the final over.

Park's 220-9 was built around a sprightly 74 from James Sprittles. Town skipper Rob Large (71) gave his side a chance, but Ghufran Mohammed took 5-61 as Park took the final wicket with nine balls remaining.

Milton Keynes Park 30, Buckingham Town 18