Former England seamer Paul Taylor recorded the first hat-trick of his long and distinguished career in Banbury’s exciting three-wicket victory against Reading in Division 1.
Taylor polished off the last three Reading wickets in three balls to finish with figures of 6-54 as Reading slipped to 224 all out.
At 106-4 in reply, Banbury looked unlikely winners, especially after losing four overs to the rain.
But then skipper Richard Kaufman was joined by his former Nothants 2nd colleague John Wolstenholme in a match-winning stand of 96.
Kaufman fell for 78 and Wolstenholme went for 47, but Banbury clinched victory with five balls to spare.
READING
J Perkins c Harding b Wolstenholme…32
S Shaw c Haupt b P Taylor…18
D Barnes st Harding b Ryan…31
P Fray lbw P Taylor…21
D Barr c Harding b P Taylor…6
J Neilson c Harding b Launder…44
C Aeri b Launder…29
R Kirk c Harding b P Taylor…32
L Beavan not out…3
D Hartley b P Taylor…0
M O’Sullivan b P Taylor…0
Extras…7
Total (all out)…224
Fall: 1-52, 2-52, 3-76, 4-85, 5-155, 6-167, 7-218, 8-224, 9-224.
Bowling: Launder 19-3-55-2, Murrey 11-3-43-0, Wolstenholme 10-3-28-1, P Taylor 16-2-54-6, Phillips 4-0-18-0, Ryan 4-1-20-1.
BANBURY
M Rorich run out…4
P Taylor c Kirk b Hartley…24
C Haupt b Hartley…43
R Kaufman c Barr b Hartley…78
S Beck c Barnes b Harrtley…0
J Wolstenholme run out…47
D Harding b Beavan…9
O Murrey not out…10
S Launder not out…0
Extras…17
Total (7 wkts, 49.1 ovs)…227
Fall: 1-11, 2-48, 3-106, 4-106, 5-202, 6-213, 7-232.
Bowling; O’Sullivan 12-3-47-0, Aeri 4-0-13-0, Hartley 17.5-1-72-4, Beavan 14-2-51-1, Barnes 2-0-23-0.
Reading 10pts, Banbury 25