Division 1

HORSPATH shared the spoils in a thrilling tie at home to Finchampstead in a superb Division 1 encounter.

The hosts crashed to 28-4 after being put in to bat as Zac Jones (3-28) did the early damage.

But Kyle Hopper (93) and Stephen Green (92no) fought back with a club record

fifth-wicket stand of 169 to take Horspath to 239-5 off their 50 overs.

Finchampstead then stumbled to 47-3, before skipper Dan Lincoln made 69 off 80 balls and Ryan Quinn hit 40 to keep their side in the hunt.

Horspath captain Will

Eason took three wickets to peg the visitors back and the hosts looked set for victory with Finchampstead on the brink at 211-9.

But in a dramatic finish Michael O’Donahue and James Woodford put on 28 for the last wicket, and Horspath were facing defeat when the former was caught at short fine leg by Mark Skelton off Eason (4-29) to leave Finchampstead 239 all out.

Aston Rowant secured a first victory of the season when defeating Oxfordshire rivals Banbury by 103 runs.

After choosing to bat, Rowant set 277-6 off their 50 overs.

Tom Condon top-scored with 78, Leo Bethell finishing unbeaten on 60 in an innings that contained three

half-century partnerships.

Banbury’s top order failed to fire, and at 54-6 the visitors had a mountain to climb.

Richard West (41) and Shazad Rana shared a 50 stand to give them a glimmer of hope.

But they fell in quick succession.

And although Graham Beer and Joe Thomas put on 53 for the final wicket, Banbury were well short.

Division 2

FREDDIE Smith hit a superb century as Oxford Downs beat Thame Town by 20 runs in their Division 2 clash on Saturday.

The opener’s 107, which came from 142 balls and included 15 fours, helped the visitors set 255-5 off their 50 overs.

Curtly Slatter fired a quickfire 43 not out off 35 deliveries as Downs reached a competitive total.

Thame skipper Michael Beard led the chase, scoring 56, but wickets fell at regular intervals.

Tom Bamford added 49 and although a final-wicket stand of 30 from Johannes Van Dyk and Michael Higgs gave Thame hope, they fell just short.

Oxford, meanwhile, remain the only team in the division to boast a 100 per cent record after a six-wicket success at Cookham Dean.

The hosts were stifled by Samad Fallah early on, the Oxford man returning figures of 3-17 from his ten overs.

Shami Mendis took the final three wickets to fall in his 4-41 as Cookham Dean could only reach 196-8 from their 40 overs.

Despite losing openers Harvey Eltham for a duck and Owyn Tong-Jones for four, Muhammad Ayub again showed his class.

His unbeaten 72 from 83 balls saw Oxford home in 36 overs, ably assisted by Calvin Dickinson (45) and Jamie Perkin (43).