BICESTER & North Oxford kicked off their Cherwell League Division 3 campaign with a crushing victory over Great & Little Tew 2nd.

The hosts triumphed by ten wickets in a one-sided match, knocking off the meagre 120 target set for them inside 27 overs.

Captain Ryan Moore opted to field first, and his decision was vindicated with the very first ball of the season as Tew captain Markus Jeacock was caught down the leg side to a diving catch from wicketkeeper Warwick Bradfield off Dan Savin for a first ball duck.

Tew never really recovered, with only Sam Barnes (30) and Josh Garrett (24) making any impact.

The visitors were all out in the 46th over, Danny Clark taking 3-14 and Savin finishing with 2-14, while Matt Woods’s spell was cut short by a groin injury.

Bicester were never likely to be challenged by such a low target.

And with openers Adam Stapleford (49no) and Nick Moorman (45no) dominating, the home side cruised to 124-0 and picked up maximum points.

Westbury’s first game in Division 2 ended with a seven-wicket win at Sandford St Martin.

Charlie Williams (3-32) and Charlie Harper (3-45) helped the visitors restrict Sandford to 197-8, Steve Dobson top-scoring with 61.

Westbury cruised to 201-3 in the 41st over, William Gurney hitting 79 and Ollie Tice 49 as they made the perfect start to life after promotion.

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts, who were relegated to Division 3, defeated visitors Stokenchurch by 36 runs.

Arfan Ahmed took 5-25 and Rustum Rabani 3-27 as Stokenchurch were shot out for 104 in reply to Nondies’ 140 all out.

In Division 7, an unbeaten 82 from Adeel Ahmed and 68 from Andy Haynes proved key as Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 2nd recorded a six-wicket win at Aston Rowant 4th.

David White (97no) had helped Rowant to

213-7, before Nondies reached 214-4 with nearly nine overs remaining.

Bicester & North Oxford 2nd’s match away to Great & Little Tew 3rd was forfeited by the hosts, but a hastily-arranged friendly against Oxford Downs 2nd meant they were able to get some invaluable practice.

One player to relish the chance was Bicester’s Callum Doak, who smashed 92 not out from 69 balls, with ten fours and two sixes.

CHERWELL LEAGUE

RESULTS

Division 2

Sandford St Martin 197-8 (S Dobson 61, K Jones 36, C Williams 3-32, C Harper 3-45), Westbury 201-3 (W Gurney 79, O Tice 49).

Division 3

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 140 (Zahid Aslam 3-30), Stokenchurch 104 (A Ahmed 5-25, R Rabani 3-27).

Gt & Little Tew 2nd 120 (D Clark 3-14), Bicester & North Oxford 124-0 (A Stapleford 49no, N Moorman 45no).

Division 7

Bicester & North Oxford 2nd w/o Gt & Little Tew 3rd.

Westbury 2nd 132 (A Clark 44, S Wheeler 3-23), Didcot 3rd 133-8 (V Perera 59, R Tredwell 4-31, E Kinman 3-23).

Aston Rowant 4th 213-7 (D White 97no, F Hanbury 38, R Ahmed 3-39), Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 2nd 214-4 (A Ahmed 82no, A Haynes 68, R Mason 4-30).

Division 9

Stokenchurch 2nd 154-8 (G Murton 65no, L Reason 31, B Malik 3-61), Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 3rd 91 (M Taylor 4-33, J Springett 3-33) – abandoned.

Division 10

Bicester & North Oxford 3rd 164-8 (S Handley 51), Westbury 3rd 168-7 (D White 81no, J Boardman 49, O Evans 3-52).

THIS SATURDAY’S FIXTURES

Div 2: Westbury v Aston Rowant 2nd.

Div 3: Horley v Bicester & North Oxford, Oxford Downs 2nd v Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts.

Div 7: Bicester & North Oxford 2nd v Bledlow Village 2nd, Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 2nd v Westbury 2nd.

Div 9: Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 3rd v Bletchley Tn 2nd.

Div 10: Bicester & North Oxford 3rd v Cropredy 3rd, Westbury 3rd v Dinton 3rd.