Banbury hosted Aston Rowant on Saturday and were in confident mood after beating them by 10 wickets in the reverse fixture earlier in the year.
Banbury won the toss and elected to field. Bolstered by the return of Ed Smith from the 1st XI and Josh Megson in good form from his 6 the week before early wickets were key.
It took both bowlers a while to settle in, as runs came at over 4 an over to start with, but Smith finally got his reward after beating the bat several times when he snicked off J Brown for 6. In his next over he had Plumbridge trapped LBW for 0.
Megson bowled well with out reward and finished with figures of 7-2-20-0. Freeman replaced Megson and soon had Muttitt caught by C Smith for 30 (what an unlucky batsman he must be!) In his next over he trapped Mills infront also for 0.
Ed Smiths spell finished without another wicket but he bowled with control and aggression finishing with 12-2-34-2.
Josh Hill (6-1-29-0) replaced Smith but never really found any rythem, so was replaed by Chris Smith (8-0-29-2). It was C Smith that broke the biggest partnership of 91 between Eaton and Whatman.
Paul Hill (9.2-0-39-4) started with possibly the worst ball of his career, as it cleared the wicket keepers head by 3 yards. But finished in great style (even though nobody realised until the bar after) by taking a hatrick!!
Aston Rowant were all out for 200.
Banburys reply got off to a flying start, as Sam Cheshire hit 3 6’s off his first over, twice over the bowlers head. Cheshire was finally caught on the boundry for 41 off just 19 balls. As Banbury raced to 60 off just 8 overs.
Andrew Sabin soon followed, but the form pair of C Smith and Jamie Coles (14) steadied the ship with a solid 53. Ed Phillips and Smith put on another 32 before Smith was finally dismissed for 56 off 92 balls.
At this stage, Banbury required 56 off 12 overs. Phillips (6) soon followed trying to hit Foster over the top. Steve Beck and Ed Smith increased the run rate and took the game away from Rowant, before Beck (18) chipped on up tamely to extra cover.
Josh Megson eased any tension by hitting Dutton for a 6 and a 4 on consecutive deliveries on his way to a rapid 17.
It was left to Ed Smith to see Banbury home and finished on 18no.
Banbury 25 Aston Rowant 11