AUSTRALIAN opener Tim Paine and Lloyd Sabin hit half-centuries as Banbury bounced back to winning ways with a comfortable seven-wicket victory at Burnham in Division 1 on Saturday.

The north Oxfordshire side’s bubble was burst by Henley the previous weekend, but they dominated their Bucks opponents after losing the toss and being put in the field.

Banbury captain Luke Ryan anticipated that the Memorial Ground pitch would provide assistance to spin, and his prediction proved spot-on.

The left-arm spinner took 3-31, while off-spinners Richard West (3-15) and Jimmy Phillips (2-46) also chipped in as Burnham were bowled out for 163.

The dangerous Aftab Khan top-scored with 41 for the hosts, but their innings then fell away.

Banbury suffered a shock off the first ball of their reply when opener Hugo Darby was caught by Raja Rehman off Muhammad Haroon.

But then Paine and Sabin shared a second-wicket stand of 102 to set the visitors on the way.

They were parted when Paine was stumped by Sajid Ali off Azhar Ali for 60 from 69 balls with eight fours.

Sabin had also made 60 when he was caught and bowled by Karan Kumar with Banbury five runs short of victory.

He faced 100 deliveries and hit five fours and two sixes.

It was left to West (25no) and Will Briggs to complete the victory.