BICESTER & North Oxford were left rueing the loss of early wickets as they slumped to a rain-affected 61-run defeat at Horley in Cherwell League Division

3.

After being put in to bat, David Taylor (61) combined first with Nick Tarrant (26), and then Dave Eaton (38) to put Horley in charge.

Off-spinner Liam Randall (2-62) accounted for Tarrant and Taylor, while Eaton was caught off the bowling of Lewis Moore (2-53).

Having dragged themselves back into the game, Bicester were forced to take a back seat as David Clark smashed eight fours and three sixes in his aggressive 59-ball 78 not out.

Along with Steve Palmer’s equally-brutal 33 from 17 balls, Horley reached an imposing total of 280-8 from their 50 overs

As light rain fell, Bicester lost four quick wickets in their reply.

With the rain showing no sign of abating, each wicket saw the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern (DLS) target shoot

up.

Despite the efforts of Dan Savin (56) and Warwick Bradfield’s (27no), Bicester never looked like catching up with the required rate.

Their defeat was confirmed when the teams were unable to return, having come off with the score on 141-6 after 32 overs.

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts lost by two wickets at Oxford Downs 2nd.

Andrew Lake took 3-14 as Nondies were bowled out inside 30 overs for 150.

This gave Downs plenty of time to reach 153-8 to secure victory, Darryl Woods top-scoring with 73.

In Division 2, only one match came to a conclusion – and it was Westbury who seized the opportunity,

beating Aston Rowant 2nd by 61 runs on the DLS method.

Tom Gurney (59) and Olly Tice (40no) saw Westbury to 124-1 in 22 overs as they chased down Rowant’s

218-8.

When rain forced the players off, Westbury were well ahead of the DLS par score, giving them maximum points.

In Division 7, Bicester & North Oxford 2nd were all out for 157 at Bledlow Village 2nd after Mark Adams (30) and Chris de Kock (27) rescued them from a precarious 62-4.

Bledlow made 35-3 before the rain came.

Bicester & North Oxford 3rd were 60-2 in reply to Cropredy 3rd’s 183-7 when rain halted the Division 10 game.

  • FRINGFORD suffered a big collapse as they lost by 68 runs at home to Shrivenham in OCA League Division 4.

The hosts seemed set for victory when Ian Hedley (5-36) dismissed Shrivenham for just 91.

Fringford subsided to 23 all out, with Hussain Kanchwala taking 5-3 and Naveed Akram 4-17.

Marsh Gibbon slipped to a five-run defeat at East & West Hendred in Division 1.

Andy Francis hit 82 as Hendred set 240-7 in their 45 overs.

Sam Richardson hit 68 not out and Stuart Leonard 64, but Marsh Gibbon finished just short on 235-7.