Banbury II came out as easy 9 wicket victors in the top of the table clash against Bourton Vale on Saturday.
Having won the toss for the first time this season, Beck invited Vale to bat first on a hot day at Whitepost Road.
On what looked to be a flat wicket, early wickets with the new ball were key, and Brooks and Faruq did not disappoint. Faruq was first to strike, getting (ex Banbury 1st XI player) Jamie Noble caught at 2nd slip by Lloyd Sabin on the last ball of his first over for 1.
Brooks then struck in his 3rd over, to remove Lazenbury for 4.
And a 3rd wicket fell 5 balls later when Faruq had Garratt caught by Lloyd Sabin once again at second slip for 4. It was a magnificent diving catch to his right.
This left Vale on 18 for 3 after 6 overs.
Banbury then struggled in the heat for the next 38 overs, as vale put on 197 runs for the loss of 1 wicket. The decisive breakthrough was made by P Hill who had E Shaw caught at deep mid-wicket by Board for 65. Then off the very next ball Halmuzahim was caught by Rorich for 98.
This broke Vale’s momentum, and they finally finished on 245 – 8. An excellent spell of death bowling by Ashley Blanchard was key.
After a solid start, runs began to flow freely, and a record breaking father – son partnership was produced! Usual roles were reversed, and Andrew Sabin was left to rotate strike as his 14 year old son Lloyd dispatched the attack to all parts of the ground with stroke pay and timing rarely seen at the ground. (Haupt and Hector would have been proud of this innings) He bought up his 50 in 72 balls, and then accelerated bringing the hundred up in 118 balls. Showing no nerves when on 94, picking a ball off leg stump and clearing the mid wicked boundary for 6!!
The partnership was finally broken with 208 on the board.
Andrew Sabin and Ed Phillips saw Banbury home with 4 overs to spare, and 9 wickets in hand. Sabin was unbeaten on 86. The highlight of his innings was a "huge" 6, which was greeted by cheers from the crowd, and a puffed out chest from the batsman (and a silly grin!)
Banbury 25 points Bourton Vale 6