A fantastic spell of bowling from Carl Needham on his 300th Marsh Gibbon appearance led his side to a 46-run win at home to Watlington in Division 2, writes KIEREN BUSHNELL.

Needham returned the extraordinary figures of 9-24 in 10.4 overs as Watlington were shot out for 116 in pursuit of Gibbon’s 162-7.

Great Horwood thumped Stonesfield by 162 runs.

Stuart Parker scored 86 not out in Horwood’s 202-5, before youngster Josh Nix took 4-15 as visitors Stonesfield were rolled over for 40.

Faringdon’s Rob Owen smashed 108 not out to help his side to a formidable 287-7 at Clifton Hampden. Nick Giles (64) and Nigel Hume (55) also shone, before Rob Smith’s 4-29 and Mike Hume’s 3-8 helped skittle Hampden for 96.

Cowley Internationals eased to an eight-wicket win at home to Chipping Norton.

Brian Barrett (4-12) led the way as Cowley dismissed their visitors for 52.

Conor Taylor shone on his return to Shrivenham with 84 runs and five wickets helping his side to a crushing 102-run victory over Charlbury in their Division 1 opener.

Taylor, who has rejoined from Challow & Childrey, led the hosts to 162 before claiming 5-14 from 8.2 overs to skittle Charlbury out for 60.

Ernie Howe claimed 5-26 in a one-sided victory.

Promoted Chadlington fell to a three-wicket defeat at Broughton & North Newington, for whom Ansar Aslam (56) and Stuart Walton (50) shone with the bat.

The other top-flight new boys, East & West Hendred, also tasted defeat, as visiting Oxenford won by 55 runs.

Himanshu Kaul top-scored with 43 not out in Oxenford’s 196 all out, Jon Francis taking 5-12. Hendred were dismissed for 141 as Zahid Khan claimed 6-50.

In Division 3, an unbeaten century from Colin Mercer (116no) helped Wantage to an eight-wicket win at Radley.

Radley had posted 200-5, Manley du Preez top-scoring with 61 not out. But Mercer’s knock eased Wantage to 203-2.

Combe won by 65 runs at Witney Swifts after amassing 288 all out.

Youngster Steve Dobson hit 98 and Robbie Nicholson 74, before Mike Eeley claimed 5-53 as Swifts were restricted to 223-9.

It was a good day for the Small family as visitors Cairns Fudge beat Britwell Salome by 113 runs.

James Halfhead top-scored with 82 in Fudge’s 279-6, while brothers Andy Small (56), Mark Small (55no) and Tom Small (34) also shone.

Jamie Clarke claimed 4-20 as Britwell were held to 166-7.

Fringford eased to an 83-run win at home to Westcott.

Ady Measday scored 81 and Tony Burcham 52 in Fringford’s 265-6, before Westcott were bowled out for 182.

Jamie van Santen rattled up the highest individual score of the day, his 139 not out leading Wolvercote to a 179-run win at Garsington 2nd in Division 4 Wolvercote posted 276-6, Tim MacIntyre scoring 72. Simon Burns then claimed 5-17 as Garsington were all out for 97.

Mark Weller claimed 6-36 for Eynsham in his side’s six-wicket win at West Ilsley.

George Storton’s 50 helped Ilsley to 156 all out, only for Patrick Arnold (92no) to see Eynsham to 157-4.

Wootton & Boars Hill defeated hosts Stanton St John Willows by six wickets.

After Danny Godfrey took 5-33 in Willows’ 160 all out, Martin Bungay (58no) led Wootton to 161-4.

Daniel King (4-17) and Andy Green (4-19) helped visitors Hailey dismiss Charlbury 2nd for 64, before they cruised to 66-2.

A superb 133 from James France set hosts Marcham on their way to an 86-run victory over Cassington Rescue in Division 5.

Marcham rattled up 273-6 in their 45 overs, before Neil Cotterell claimed 5-36 to help dismiss Cassington for 187.

Duncan Macdonald hit 77 as Kilkenny rattled up 219 all out against Kennington.

Despite 77 from Graham Rowley and Aidan Robbins’s 66 not out, the hosts ended six runs short on 213-3.

Promoted Kidlington recorded a 106-run win at West Witney.

Dan Farrant top-scored with 61 not out in Kidlington’s 236-7. Waseem Azad then claimed 4-17 as West Witney were all out for 130.

In Division 6, Richard Cherry hit 73 not out in Hook Norton 2nd’s 202-9, before Clive Plant claimed 5-13 from 11 overs as visiting Minster Lovell 2nd were out for 114.

Risinghurst rattled up 210-4 at home to Dorchester. Martin Kalyan (67no) led the way before Mohammed Iltaf claimed 5-29 as Dorchester were bowled out for 168.

In Division 7, Stonesfield 2nd’s Neville Bainbridge took 7-37 in a nine-wicket win at home to Westbury 2nd.

Westbury were dismissed for 160, before Paul Jackson hit 82 not out as Stonesfield cruised to 163-1.

Richard Cook saw Radley 2nd to a six-wicket win at home to Marcham 2nd in Division 8.

Cook claimed 3-28 in Marcham’s 171-4, Stephen Hill scoring 66 not out, and then led the way with 47 not out as Radley eased to 172-4.

A haul of 5-15 from Andrew Tompkins helped Chipping Norton 2nd bowl out visiting West Ilsley 2nd for 62 in a ten-wicket win.

A 232-run partnership between Jonathan Campion (119) and Asif Amin (100) set Wolvercote 2nd on the way to a 156-run victory at home to Witney Swifts 2nd in Division 9.

Andy Worman starred with bat and ball for Britwell Salome 2nd in their 14-run win at Dorchester 2nd.

After hitting 108 in Britwell’s 226-8, Worman returned 4-21 as Dorchester were bowled out for 212.

Hanborough 2nd made a successful return to the OCA with a five-wicket win at home to Sunningwell 2nd.

Neil Pickup hit 69 in Sunningwell’s 212-5, before 83 from Jack Buckingham and 45 not out from Gavin Lever led Hanborough home.