THAME Town have won promotion into the top flight after beating Harefield on Saturday.

But Oxford’s bid to secure Division 1 cricket remains in the balance after defeat at rivals Oxford Downs.

Olliver Ebsworth-Burland was the star for Thame in their 25-run victory on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

He hit 118 as visitors Thame reached 301-7 off their 50 overs having won the toss.

Hassam Mushtaq also played his part with a classy 57.

Harefield saw their reply interrupted by rain and were set a reduced target of 290 from 44 overs.

But Johannes Van Dyk took 4-41 as they were all out for 265 in the 42nd over.

The win sees Thame promoted to the top flight, and just three points at home to Amersham next week will secure the title.

Oxford must beat basement side Dinton next week to make sure of the other promotion spot after slipping to a 68-run defeat at Oxford Downs.

It was a huge win for the west Oxfordshire side, who would have fallen into the bottom two without victory.

Richard Sillars top-scored with 89 and Freddie Smith hit 53 as Downs made 254-7 off their 50 overs after winning the toss.

A number of Oxford batsmen made starts, but none could go on to get a big score as Wasim Mehmood claimed 5-33 off his ten overs to bowl them out for 186 in the 49th over.

Downs must, however, beat fellow strugglers Cookham Dean next week to guarantee their survival.

BANBURY took a big step towards securing second spot in Division 1 with a 53-run win over Finchampstead.

Shahid Yousaf top-scored with 87, Olly Clarke adding 59 as visitors Banbury made 272-7 off their 50 overs.

The hosts were then bowled out for 219 with the wickets shared around.

Victory over Buckingham next week will confirm Banbury as runners-up to Henley.

Lloyd Belcher broke his own Horspath record for most wickets in a season during the five-wicket home defeat by champions Henley.

The left-arm spinner took 3-51 to take his tally for the campaign to 39, beating his 38 when Horspath were Division 2 champions in 2016.

It also saw the 20-year-old regain pole position in the battle to be the top flight’s leading wicket-taker.

Already-relegated Horspath were bowled out for 217 after electing to bat, Robbie Eason (48), Tom Cosford (37) and Dominic O’Connor (34) made useful contributions.

But Henley were always in control and eased to 219-5 in the 38th over.

Aston Rowant lost by 19 runs to High Wycombe on the DLS method.

The hosts set 290-8, before rain reduced Rowant’s chase to 241 from 37 overs.

Despite James Coles hitting 62, they ended on 222-9.