LLOYD Belcher returned his league best figures of 6-45 as Horspath bounced back with a resounding 87-run victory at home to Burnham in Division 1.

The 18-year-old left-arm spinner produced a superb spell to send Burnham reeling to 154 all out after they had seen the hosts post 241-8 after putting them in to bat in the Home Counties Premier League clash.

Showing good control during his 16 overs, Belcher worked his way through the Burnham middle order with his victims including Raminder Singh (35) and Aftab Khan.

Horspath’s challenging total had been built around a well-constructed 69 from James Fitzjohn, whose runs came off 143 balls with five fours.

He shared in a second-wicket stand of 69 with Robbie Eason before the Horspath opener was adjudged lbw for 46.

Stephen Green, with 37 from 38 balls, provided the innings with late acceleration, before Jamil Faruq ensured the hosts finished with a flourish by blasting an unbeaten 18.

The wickets were shared around with off-spinner Aftab Khan, who took 2-72 from 23 overs, the pick of the visitors’ attack.

Oxford lost by 24 runs at home to Finchampstead.

Spinner Harvey Eltham (4-49) and seamer Samad Fallah (4-83) helped to dismiss their visitors for 224.

A third-wicket partnership of 82 between Adam Dewes (81) and Dan Lincoln (37) proved key to their innings.

Oxford were in trouble on 13-2 when Ben Charlesworth and Eltham fell.

Owyn Tong-Jones and Muhammad Ayub (31) put on 35 to steady the ship.

Jamie Perkin also hit a half-century (54), but wickets fell regularly as Oxford found themselves on 115-7.

Perkin put on 35 for the eighth wicket with Andrew Clough, but they were dismissed in quick succession as Oxford slipped to 168-9.

The visitors dug deep, though, and Fallah (45) led a tenth-wicket partnership of 32 with Richard Musk, before the latter was dismissed as they fell short.

Great & Little Tew sit bottom after an eight-wicket defeat at leaders Henley.

Electing to bat, the west Oxfordshire side posted 212-9, Henry Woodward leading the way with 76.

Jordan Garrett (47) and Lloyd Brock (40) also chipped in, with Tahir Afridi (3-31) and Gurveer Singh (3-50) the pick of the bowlers.

The total was never going to be enough with Henley reaching 215-2 in the 40th over, thanks to Waqas Hussain’s century (108) and Michael Roberts’s unbeaten 79.

Lloyd Sabin hit 91 not out as Banbury drew at Tring Park.

The hosts elected to bat, posting 286-9, with Michael Payne (70) top-scoring and Aizaz Cheema taking 3-54.

Banbury slipped to 82-4, but Sabin, who hit 11 fours and two sixes, and Olly Clarke’s stand of 88 helped them finish on 170-4 and earn a draw.

HIGH-FLYING Aston Rowant stretched their lead at the top of Division 2 to 28 points when beating Shipton-under-Wychwood by seven wickets at home.

Simon Hole hit an unbeaten half-century, but the visitors crumbled to 108 all out, Wes Morrick (5-33) the chief destroyer.

Rowant then cruised to victory in 22 overs.

Shipton were immediately in trouble after electing to bat and reeling on 8-5, with Morrick making light work of the top-order.

Hole put on partnerships of 36 and 32 with Shaun Cross and Charlie Brain respectively to steady the ship and steer Shipton to 76-6.

But they went on to lose three wickets for as many runs, Scott Harris and Shaun Miller both out first ball as seven visiting batsmen recorded ducks.

A final-wicket partnership of 32 between Hole and Matt Brown saw them into three figures, before they were dismissed for 108.

Rowant lost an early wicket when Tom Condon was bowled by Anupam Sanklecha, before Alex Jewell was dismissed to leave them 27-2.

But James McDougall (54no) and Josh Smith’s partnership of 72 steered the hosts towards victory.

The former was dismissed, but it did not stop Rowant easing home.

Thame Town lost by five wickets at Datchet.

The visitors were dismissed for 157, losing wickets at regular intervals as James Adams hit a half-century (51) despite Chris Peploe taking 7-48.

Datchet made light work of chasing down the total.

A third-wicket partnership of 87 between Steven Naylor (54) and Joseph Thomas (42) put the hosts well in control, before they reached 161-5 to secure victory.