TOM Cosford hit a dominant half-century to set Horspath on the way to a 33-run win on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at Tring Park in their Division 1 opener.

With Horspath in trouble at 61-5, the all-rounder hammered 62 from 56 balls to steer the visitors to 191 all out off 46.4 overs in a match reduced to 47 overs-a-side due to a hailstorm.

Horspath’s innings was also held up for around 20 minutes while Tring wicket-keeper Stephen Dutch was attended to before being taken to hospital with a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon.

Chasing a revised target of 194 to win, Tring were well in contention at 135-4 when Darryl Brown took two wickets in the space of three balls, including AJ Woodland for 61.

Skipper Will Eason (3-31) then returned to mop up the tail as Tring fell to 160 all out.

Banbury also got off to a winning start after recording a 57-run victory over High Wycombe on the DLS

method.

Despite being deep in trouble at 6-3 and 57-7, a stand of 63 between Shazad Rana (37no) and Ollie Wright (28) helped Banbury reach 134 all out in 49.5 overs.

The hosts then took wickets at regular intervals in reply, and with the weather leading to a revised target, Wycombe fell well short.

A superb century from Josh Smith was in vain as Aston Rowant lost by 18 runs against Henley.

The skipper hit a fluent 127 off just 121 balls as his side looked to chase down a target of 264-6.

However, he received little support as Rowant were all out off the penultimate ball of the match.

Earlier, Smith’s decision to bowl first backfired when Henley cruised to 150-0.

Although Rowant clawed it back with a succession of wickets in the middle of the Henley innings, the target proved just enough.

Newly-promoted Oxford Downs sent out a strong statement after thumping Dinton by 106 runs in their opening Division 2 match of the season.

A fine knock by skipper George Sandbach saw Downs reach 232-9 in their 50 overs.

And their bowlers then took centre stage, with only three Dinton batsmen making double figures.

Sandbach’s 76 formed the base of the visitors’ innings, their only wobble coming late on when they slipped from 203-4 to 221-9.

Harry Sutton (3-49) helped reduce Dinton to 38-4 from 36-1, before Will Watts claimed 3-3 in 3.3 overs to mop up the tail and ensure an emphatic victory.

Oxford also picked up maximum points after a 41-run success over Harefield.

Having been asked to bat, Oxford lost wickets at regular intervals and struggled to 145-9.

Muhammad Ayub top-scored with a dogged 56 off 106 balls.

However, Harefield were also unable to string a big partnership together, a 33-run opening stand the highlight of their innings.

Harvey Eltham (3-25), Chris Humphreys (2-8) and Shami Mendis (2-24) the pick of the bowlers as the visitors were dismissed for 114 in the 39th over.

Thame Town lost by six wickets to Burnham.

Despite a 76-run fourth-wicket stand between James Adams (39) and Thomas Bamford (37), Thame were all out for 181 off the penultimate ball.

An early wicket gave them some hope in reply, but Raza Ali Dar (76no) eased Burnham home with 4.2 overs remaining.