IC3 Home Counties Premier League: Banbury began their Division 1 campaign with a convincing seven-wicket win over Finchampstead, led by an excellent unbeaten century from Craig Haupt on Saturday.
It was Haupt’s second ton in successive home matches against the Berkshire side, who were making a return to the top flight after one season in Division 2.
After inserting their visitors, however, Banbury gave them a flying start with a flurry of wides as the opening partnership produced 46 in under seven overs.
The introduction of Simon Launder into the attack slowed the scoring rate, but Finchampstead were well placed at lunch on 124-2 from 35 overs.
Banbury’s spin twins, Jimmy Phillips and Paul Hill soon changed the position.
Wickets fell regularly throughout the rest of the innings, despite Finchampstead skipper Steve Brogan remaining undefeated on 80.
Banbury’s reply began badly, with openers Crhis Smith and Marc Rorich dismissed inside seven overs.
But Haupt and skipper Richard Kaufman turned things round with a stand of 70 in 12 overs before Kaufman fell for 58 off 51 balls – an innings peppered with ten boundaries.
Steve Beck then joined Haupt in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 150, a stand dominated by the South African left-hander, who faced 127 balls for his unbeaten 121.
His match-winning innings included six sixes and 14 fours, and saw Banbury home with seven overs to spare.
FINCHAMPSTEAD
E Seymour lbw Rorich…25
B Clenow c Launder b Hill…46
A Hobbs lbw Launder…16
S Brogan not out…80
H Hall c Haupt b Phillips…12
S Taylor c Harding b Phillips…8
S Milne c Launder b Hill…10
S Bloyce c Taylor b Phillips…3
N Denning run out…1
J Cowie not out…9
Extras…25
Total (8 wkts, 66 ovs)…235
Fall: 1-46, 2-72, 3-133, 4-148, 5-159, 6-184, 7-191, 8-210.
Bowling: P Taylor 4-0-15-0, C Taylor 4-1-21-0, Rorich 4-0-20-1, Launder 8-2-16-1, Phillips 24-1-91-3, Hill 21-1-64-2, Kaufman 1-0-1-0.
BANBURY
C Smith c Hobbs b Bloyce…1
M Rorich b Dunning…5
C Haupt not out…121
R Kaufman lbw Milne…58
S Beck not out…39
Extras…12
Total (3 wkts, 47 ovs)…236
Fall: 1-10, 2-16, 3-86.
Bowling: Dunning 11-0-51-1, Bloyce 9-0-47-1, E Taylor 3-0-23-0, Clenow 10-3-37-0, Milne 5-0-23-1, Parson 6-1-36-0, Cowie 3-0-11-0.