A brilliant all-round display by Oxford’s Stefan Van Dyk decided the outcome of the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 championship on Saturday.

Welwyn Garden City, needing a victory to secure the title, slumped to a 74-run defeat in a low-scoring match at Rover Cowley where Van Dyk scored 43 runs and returned a match-winning six-wicket spell.

This allowed Henley to retain the title.

Welwyn, who won the toss, seemed in control of their game against Oxford, who slumped from 33-0 to 73-5 after 27 overs.

Stewart Laudat andVan Dyk 43 added 75 for the sixth wicket before Laudat was trapped leg before to Paul Barker.

Van Dyk, whose 43 came off just 45 balls, was run out with the score on 133.

Jamie Hewitt, introduced to the attack, finished off Oxford’s innings for 150, taking three wickets in his only over.

This left Welwyn 69 overs to clinch the championship.

Van Dyk dismissed Matthew Hill for in the first over and went on to take the first five wickets as the visitors slum-ped to 43-5.

Veteran off-spinner Rupert Evans, making his first outing of the season, took a wicket in his third over.

Van Dyk captured his sixth victim, and Welwyn were all out for 76 in the 36th over when Ian Crosby took a fine onehanded catch off Evans.

South African Van Dyk returned his best figures for Oxford of 6-35, while Evans finished with 3-9 off 12.4 overs on his return to the side.