PROMISING batsman Harrison Ward will face the Home Counties League’s most in-form bowler when Horspath visit Oxford in a top-of-the-table battle tomorrow.

Leaders Horspath and Oxford are strong favourites to fill the two promotion positions in Division 2, writes MICHAEL KNOX.

When the teams met on the opening day of the season, Horspath won a tight game by 17 runs.

Since then, Oxford have acquired the services of left-arm seamer Samad Fallah, who has taken an astonishing 19 wickets in the last three games.

Facing the Fallah test will be young Oxon batsman Ward, who is free to play for Horspath now the term at St Edward’s School has ended.

Ward replaces Mark Skelton in the only change from last week, when they had to settle for a draw against Datchet after failing to dislodge the last pair.

“We’ve obviously heard some good things about Fallah, but we’re looking forward to the challenge,” said Horspath skipper Will Eason.

“It’s always nice to pit yourself against the best.”

“I think whoever wins this game could kick on for the rest of the season.”

Oxford skipper John Barrett said: “There is still half a season to go. I don’t think the game will have a massive influence on the eventual outcome.”

Oxford are strengthened by the return of Andrew Clough and Ian Crosby.

Arguably, the most in-form batsman at present is Shipton-under-Wychwood’s Calvin Dickinson.

Last week, the youngster hammered 84 not out from just 47 balls in their eight-wicket destruction of bottom club Gerrards Cross.

The Oxford Brookes student followed that with an astonishing run-a-ball 185 for Combined Universities against Warwickshire 2nd in midweek.

He will be hoping to maintain that good form in unchanged Shipton’s match at home to Buckingham Town.

Thame Town make two changes for their match away to bottom club Gerrards Cross.

James Adams and Ollie Furness come in for Will Taylor and Matt Furness.

Aston Rowant will be hoping to build on their eight-wicket victory against Buckingham when they visit Amersham.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Oxford (v Horspath, home): Barrett (capt), Alam, Perera, Munsey, Clough, Crosby, Mendis, Beer, Simon, Fallah, Eltham.

Horspath (v Oxford, away): W Eason (capt), Ward, Phillips, Raja, Green, Ali, Belcher, Faruq, Price, Stead, Mohammed.

Thame Tn (v Gerrards Cross, away): Higgs (capt), W Sutcliffe, MacDonald, Beard, Mushtaq, O Sutcliffe, Phippen, Rooney, Adams, Barnett, Garg.

Shipton-under-Wychwood (v Buckingham Tn, home): Brain (capt), A Hemming, Wood, Dickinson, Barrett, Perkin, C Miller, Si Hole, Sanklecha, Cross, Seacole.

BANBURY welcome back spin twins Luke Ryan and Richard West as they aim to bounce back at home to bottom club Harefield tomorrow.

Both Ryan and West missed Banbury’s first defeat of their Division 1 campaign last week when they lost by four wickets to Slough.

“Spin played a big part in the game and we certainly missed the control they would have given us,” said Banbury skipper Lloyd Sabin, who admitted their total of 185-8 was “20 to 30 runs short”.

“We’re a young side and are still learning,” he said.

“We’ll do our best to bounce back and defeat Harefield.”

Leg-spinner Ryan and off-spinner West, who were attending a wedding, replace Josh Megson and Will Hawtin.

The only other change sees Tom Bradbeer replace the unavailable Craig Haupt.

Great & Little Tew will not be panicked into making changes after their six-wicket defeat by Burnham.

Tew, who were shot out for 82, are unchanged for their daunting test at home to leaders Henley.

“I’m not worried about our general batting quality – it’s just that nobody came off on the day,” said Tew captain Andy Harris.

The skipper also said he was pleased with how the side’s bowling had improved during the season.

“We learned pretty quickly that if you didn’t bowl in the right areas, you would get punished,” said.

“We’ve made the adjustment and have bowled well as a unit.”

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Banbury (v Harefield, home): Sabin (capt), Darby, Patterson, West, Ryan, Bradbeer, Blanchard, Penhale, Hill, Wright, Taylor.

Great & Little Tew (v Henley, home): Harris (capt), Smith, Garrett, Moreton, White, Slatter, Lloyd Brock, Hubbert, Warner, Thomas, Manley.