Banbury travelled to Tew to take on Great Tew 3rds in a top of the table clash in Division 8 and came away with a convincing 6 wicket victory.
Great Tew won the toss and elected to bat first on an overcast day. The opening spell from Ollie Murray and Iain Woodworth proved crucial and Tew managed only 10 runs in the fist 10 overs, with both opening batsmen playing and missing regularly. However, Dave Freeman threw caution to the wind and went after Ollie and Woody, resulting in Tew moving rapidly onto 61-0 off 19 overs. With the rain now coming down, the players persisted and Woody was finally rewarded with the key wicket of Freeman, caught by Richard Lambden for 35. Shortly after, the players left the field for rain with Tew on 65-1 off 20 overs.
After the rain break, the match was reduced to 41 overs each. Mark Pallett struck early, dismissing Phillips-Tebb for 5. However, Tom Young and Andy Darby continued to move the score along for Tew, with a few cracks appearing in Banbury’s fielding. However, the team stuck at it and Dan Bartlett removed danger man Darby for 14, to a well judged catch by Sion Charlesworth-Jones. Although Mark Wright and Dan Bartlett kept things tight from Banbury in the final overs, some good running from Tew, but some equally good fielding from Banbury, with Mitch effecting 2 run outs, saw Tew total 161-5 off their 41 overs. It was another great bowling and fielding display from Banbury with he best bowlers again Woody with 1-30 off 10 overs, Mark Pallett with 1-28 off 7 overs and Dan Bartlett 1-27 off 5overs at the end. Mark Wright didn’t get a wicket but bowled 10 overs for 40 runs.
With Banbury’s turn to bat, with the asking rate at 4 runs an over, Kieran Scott fell in 1st over for 0 to but Banbury on the back foot. Adnan started cautiously, while at the other end Mitch was continuing his fantastic form. The pair moved Banbury on to 52-1 off 10 overs with some lovely batting. With the introduction of spin, Adnan opened his arms sending one towering 6 back over the bowlers head. The pair both moved into the 40’s, Mitch with lovely drives and cuts and Adnan with another huge six over mid wicket, and moved Banbury’s score along to 102-1 off 20 overs. With a 50 in sight, Adnan was out caught behind for 48 and the end to a 108 run partnership with Mitch. A few overs later, Mitch finally reached his 50 (his 5th of the season), after which Richard Lambden fell for 9. With victory in sight, Mitch went for one huge drive to many and was finally out for 68 with the score on 146. It was then left to Andy Jones and Ollie Murray to see Banbury home in the 33rd over as Banbury finished 162-4 and winners by 6 wickets.
The win moved Banbury into 1st place in the Division 8 table, 13 points clear of Tew, with 2 games remaining.