BANBURY Under 17 ret-ained the Honey-B Trophy with a well-earned 23-run victory over Great & Little Tew at Horspath.
For the second year in a row, Lloyd Sabin was the star performer, winning the man-of-the-match award after scoring a half-century and producing a stunning run-out.
After losing the toss, Banbury were asked to bat on a wet wicket with regular showers sweeping across the ground.
But Sabin and Jamie Coles shared 50 for the first wicket, before Charlie Hill joined Sabin at the crease to take the score to 100-2 with five overs remaining.
Josh Megson chipped in with a quickfire 17, and when Sabin was finally out for 65, Banbury closed on a competitive 131-5 from their 20 overs.
Tew got off to the worst possible start as Sabin brilliantly ran out opener Robbie Shur-mer.
Attempting a quick single to mid-off, Sabin threw down the stumps leaving Shurmer a couple of feet short.
A partnership of 54 from eight overs between Curtly Slatter and Markus Jeacock got Tew back on track.
But the introduction of spinners Coles and Sabin turned the match in Banbury’s favour.
Their eight overs yielded only 30 runs, Sabin dismissing Slatter for 40.
And when Sabin brilliantly caught Matt Taylor off the bowling of Justin Lambden, the game was up as they finished 23 runs short.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here