A REMARKABLE double-century opening partnership between Hugo Darby and Tim Paine propelled Banbury back into the heart of the Division 1 title race on Saturday.
Set 263 for victory by visitors Burnham, Banbury triumphed by ten wickets thanks to superb batting from former Australia wicket-keeper Paine (152no) and Oxfordshire opener Darby (106no), who knocked off the runs with five overs to spare.
Banbury are now just three points behind leaders Henley and three ahead of High Wycombe with four games to go.
Burnham won the toss and Karan Kumar, with an aggressive 73 off 89 balls, and Aftab Khan, added 82 for the fourth wicket.
The spin of Luke Ryan and Richard West halted their momentum and they had to settle for 262-9 from their 64-over allocation.
Darby and Paine made light work of the task.
Paine’s unbeaten 152 came off 154 balls, with one six and 18 fours, while Darby reached his century just before victory was achieved in the 51st over.
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