Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League - Division 1

Two youngsters sealed the spoils as Banbury defeated Oxford by six wickets in their Oxfordshire derby at White Post Road.

Oxford captain Jason Harrison made 101 in their 204 all out, but a 116-run partnership between 21-year-old Richard West (76no) and 15-year-old Lloyd Sabin (45) saw Banbury to victory.

Banbury were also indebted to the bowling of seamer Todd Gutheridge (4-54) and spinner Luke Ryan (3-81).

The hosts won the toss and inserted Oxford, who put on 50 before Gutheridge bowled Chris Sanbach for nine.

Gutheridge then repeated the trick to remove Stewart Laudat for a golden duck.

Harrison, whose century came off 207 balls and featured ten fours and one six, was eventually Oxford’s final wicket to fall after being run out by Ryan.

In between, he put on 40 with Jonno Evans for the seventh wicket and 46 for the eighth with Stefan van Dyk, but Oxford’s total of 204 never looked enough.

At 89-4 in their reply, Banbury had it all to do, but youngsters West and Sabin kept calm to steer them to victory and third place in the table.

Earlier, Ian Tew (26) and Eddie Phillips (19) had given Banbury a decent start. and Nathan Hawkes upped the scoring rate with 25 off 31 balls.

In the decisive partnership, West’s 76 came off 103 balls with ten fours and two sixes.

Sabin took just 67 balls for his 45, with five fours and one six.

Stuart Hole (2-67) was Oxford’s most successful bowler, but Banbury won with more than five overs to spare.