BICESTER & North Oxford were always second best to North Maidenhead on Saturday, but did enough to earn a comfortable draw and pick up seven points in Division 2 West.

Winning the toss and electing to field first, Bicester started brightly and reduced the visitors to 100-4 by the lunch break.

Then Paras Mhambrey (80) and Dane Ferrar (83no) came together with the best partnership of the match.

They put on 97 at a run a ball to take the game away from Bicester, eventually leading their side to a formidable score of 273-7.

Spinner Paul Jeacock (3-75) was the pick of the home bowlers.

Bicester's reply never really got going, but solid batting from opener Darryl Woods and an undefeated 37 from Shiv Talsania earned the home side a losing draw.