Banbury Beat First Team

Having won the toss, our visitors decided to make first use of the wicket on a chilly morning.

An early wicket from Simon Stanway, saw Banbury slip to 3-1 but the experience of captain Lloyd Sabin and opener Craig Haupt steadied their innings as we pushed in search for a second wicket. The pair put on a partnership of 63 before the former was caught behind by Jeremy O'Neill off the bowling of AJ Woodland.

Soon after, allrounder Michael Payne had Moegamat Qaasim Adams trapped LBW and we continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals. Banbury continued to push their score along batting positively and at 181-9, we had a chance to bowl out the visitors for less than 190. Banbury progressed to 210 before the final wicket was taken by captain Shelvin Gumbs, who like Mo Choudhry also took three wickets with Payne chipping in with two and O’Neill holding on to four catches at the wicket.

The First team had a very bad start to their innings with Woodland and Liam Gough being dismissed with only two runs on the board. Payne moved up the order at number three settled in however Andy Dixon at four and Gumbs at fivequickly departed and Payne was joined by David Brent (pictured) with the score on 38-4.

With both Payne and Brent on 33 each, the heavens opened and play was stopped due to rain. The short break resulted in a loss of seven overs and at the resumption we was very much up against it.

Looking to push on, we lost wickets at regular intervals with only Payne (33) and Brent (50) making any noticeable contributions and we were finally bowled out for 133 in 42.2 overs with only 2.4 overs remaining.

We are now in sixth place in the League, 53 points behind leaders Slough CC. Next weekend we travel down the M40 take on Thame Town.