The weather put pay to much of the cricket over the weekend, with the first XI game at Henley being abandoned and Seconds and Thirds not even getting started due to heavy overnight rain.
The fourths managed to get a game in at Horspath and got there title challenge up and running after narrowly missing out on promotion last season.
After losing the toss and being inserted on a soft damp track in dizzly conditions Banbury got off to a great start with Edward Phillips guesting for the 4th’s in place of the Chairman.
Eddie and Sam Ryan put up some solid resistance early doors with Phillips going on to make his third Cherwell league ton of his career. Phillips finished on 107 after finally being caught at the seventh attempt.
With ten overs to spare Banbury had 7 wickets in hand and did well to reach a formidable target of 212 – 9.
In reply Banbury bowled a tight and controlled opening spell with Alex Blanchard bowling the Horspath opener with a ball that Shane Warne would have been proud of, bowling the batsmen around his legs to send middle stump to the ground.
But bowling sensation Steve Paxton stole the show taking 7 – 38 to dislodge the middle order. Wickets from English and Robbins wrapped up the innings leaving Horsapth 89 all out and a margin of victory of 123 runs.
In contrast the First XI lost there rearranged game in the ECB national knock out competition in less that ideal circumstances losing 5 -2 in a bowl out at the Dewy Sports Centre as the Monsoon like conditions continued into Sunday.