BANBURY’S batsmen made hay while the sun shone in their Division 1 derby clash at home to Oxford on Saturday.

But unluckily for the hosts, the sun did not shine long enough and their contest was abandoned shortly after Oxford began their reply.

Following a delayed start, the match was reduced in overs, with Banbury scheduled to receive 45 rather than 60 after being put in.

Openers Lloyd Sabin and Dan Harris made the most of some wayward bowling from Mark Beer, while Stuart Hole kept it tight at the other end.

The openers put on 88 before Harris fell to lbw Shami Mendis for 41.

This was the first of five wickets for the spinner, even though he did concede at five runs per over.

Sabin went on to get 60 of 93 balls with one six and 11 fours. Craig Haupt bustled the score along with 42 off 64 deliveries.

Rapid scoring at the end from Richard West, who hit 30 off 13 balls, took the hosts to an impressive 224-5. Mendis was the pick of the bowlers with 5-70.

Oxford lost Brad Sutherland for 13 to Ashley Blanchard, but shortly afterwards, with the score on 28-1, the players were driven off the field by rain, never to return.

  • ASTON Rowant’s Division 1 game at Henley was called off before the start because of waterlogged outfield.

Both teams pick up six points.

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