A briilliant all-round display by David Taylor saw Banbury to a comfortable victory over Bicester and North Oxford in the first-ever Home Counties Premier League encounter at White Post Lane on Saturday, writes Michael Knox.

Taylor, who played for Bicester two seasons ago, is primarily known as a hard-hitting left-hand batsman, but it was his bowling that had the greater impact on this match.

Put in on a pitch with a tinge of green, Bicester had progressed to 30-0 off ten overs, before Taylor came on and promptly took a wicket in each of his first three overs. Swinging the ball away at a fast-medium pace, he dismissed Ian Hawtin, caught brilliantly at slip by Andrew Sabin, James France and Australian recruit Damien Alderton all within the space of 11 balls.

When Neal Radford nipped out the younger France brother, Ben, and Matt Collins, Bicester were in dire trouble at 52-5 after 25 overs.

Indeed, a match that was scheduled to last 120 overs looked like being over within half that number and probably would have been if Jason de la Pena had held on to a straight-forward slip chance off Bicester skipper Darryl Woods.

The benefit of the longer game - the team batting first is allocated a maximum of 66 overs - is that it allows for a period of retrenchment.

Woods, coming in at No 7, did just that, although by scoring only eight runs from his first 81 balls, he was hardly likely to wrest the initiative from the home side.

Spurred on by skipper Neil Megson's vocal encouragement, Banbury's out-cricket was superb. Hardly a bad ball was bowled throughout and nothing got through the field. Once Graham Savin departed for a patient 30 to the nagging left-arm spin of Paul Hill, Bicester never looked like getting more that the paltry 147-9 they achieved.

When opener Craig Haupt struck 17 off the fourth over of the new innings, Banbury seemed set to fly home, but there were a few hiccups on the way.

Haupt mistimed a hook, and Sabin was bowled shouldering arms to Savin, who also proved too good for De LaPena.

But Taylor soon eased any home worries, with some superbly timed shots all round the wicket.

You know it's going to be your day when your'e caught off a no ball and Taylor enjoyed more luck, being dropped three times.

But with one superb straight six off Paul Jeacock, and nine fours, Taylor saw Banbury home with 25.2 of their 54-over allocation to spare.

Bicester's bowling and outcricket left a lot to be desired - Alderton is quick but erratic. Both clubs should learn this week where Oxfordshire captain Rob Williams will play this season.

There's no question about which club needs him more!