Banbury were blown away by Welwyn Garden City paceman Nicholas Walker, who returned stunning figures of 9-83 to set the leaders on the way to a seven-wicket win in Division 1 Serious Cricket Homes Counties Premier League at White Post Road.

The home side were put in to bat, and after Simon White trapped Lloyd Sabin lbw, Walker worked his way through the rest of the order in a 22.3-over spell as Banbury were shot out for 164.

Craig Haupt was his first victim, and Walker quickly added the wickets of Nathan Hawkes, Richard West and Shahbaz Ali to leave Banbury 62-5.

Only skipper Ian Hawtin (39) and Ashley Blanchard (41) provided any resistance as the Welwyn seamer had a day to remember.

Banbury’s total never looked like posing any problems for the visitors as Martin James and former Oxford and Oxfordshire all-rounder Jamie Hewitt made a brisk start, putting on 88 for the first wicket.

Left-arm spinner Luke Ryan removed both openers and also had James Southgate caught by Jimmy Phillips to leave Welwyn 118-3 .

But Aaron Laraman blasted 52 off 29 balls, with seven fours and three sixes, to see Welwyn home at 167-3 off just 31.5 overs.