Division 1

BANBURY recorded a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Slough.

Richard West claimed 4-39 and Olly Clarke 3-31 as the hosts were bowled out for 167 in 60 overs.

Skipper Lloyd Sabin then led from the front with an unbeaten 74 as Banbury passed their target in the 45th over, Shahid Yousaf blasting 45 not out off just 40 balls to help them home.

Lloyd Belcher’s five-wicket haul proved in vain as Horspath slipped to a two-wicket defeat at second-placed Datchet.

Having been bowled out for 165, Horspath were sensing victory as left-arm spinner Belcher (5-48) reduced Datchet to 79-7.

But they were denied by David Brent, who had a good day at the office with a

superb unbeaten 99 from 144 balls to steer the hosts home at 171-8.

The Zimbabwean, was supported by tailenders Tom Lambert and Ollie Smithson in crucial partnerships of 50 and an undefeated 42 for the eighth and ninth wickets respectively.

Earlier, stand-in opener Will Robertson (40) top-scored for Horspath.

Aston Rowant remain rooted to the bottom after losing by six wickets against Buckingham Town.

Chris Watling top-scored with 72 and opener Tom Condon hit 56 as Rowant, who had been asked to bat first by their rivals, set 231-9 off 64 overs.

Buckingham, however, passed their target in 54 overs, with Leigh Tomlinson scoring 78 and Robert Large an unbeaten 59.

Division 2

HARVEY Eltham’s superb century got Oxford back on track in Division 2 on Satur-day.

Having suffered a first defeat of the season at the hands of Thame Town last weekend, their 58-run win over Chesham saw the hosts maintain their position at the top of the table.

Eltham scored more than half of Oxford’s runs, his 164-ball 101 helping his side to 201-9 off their 57 overs.

Chesham were then dismissed for 143 in the 44th over, Chris Humphreys taking 4-35, Shami Mendis 3-20 and Eltham 2-40.

Thame moved up to third place after a crushing 183-run win over Dinton.

Olliver Ebsworth-Burland hit 101 as Thame declared on 287-5, Callum Russell chipping in with 70 as the duo shared a second-wicket partnership of 152.

Russell (3-16), Johannes Van Dyk

(3-20) and Faisal Ali (3-48) then tore through Dinton as the basement side were all out for 104 in the 30th over.

A middle-order collapse saw Oxford Downs having to settle for a draw against Burnham.

Nick Rivett (3-44) and Richard Sillars (3-48) helped bowl Burnham out for 179.

Downs, led by Chris Sandbach’s 54, were looking good at 105-2 and 130-3.

But a flurry of wickets then saw them slip to 157-8 and they were eventually forced to bat out for a draw at 165-8.