BICESTER & North Oxford kicked off their Cherwell League Division 3 campaign with a crushing victory at home to Great & Little Tew 2nd.

The hosts triumphed by ten wickets in a one-sided match, knocking off the meagre 120 target set for them inside 27 overs.

Captain Ryan Moore opted to field first, and his decision was vindicated with the very first ball of the season as Tew captain Markus Jeacock was caught down the leg side to a diving catch from wicket keeper Warwick Bradfield off Dan Savin for a first ball duck.

Tew never really recovered, with only Sam Barnes (30) and Josh Garrett (24) making any impact.

The visitors were all out in the 46th over, Danny Clark taking 3-14 and Savin finishing with 2-14, while Matt Woods’s spell was cut short by a groin injury.

Bicester were never likely to be challenged by such a low target.

And with openers Adam Stapleford (49no) and Nick Moorman (45no) dominating, the home side cruised to 124-0 and picked up maximum points.

Minster Lovell began life in a higher division with a five-wicket win at home to Horley.

Harry Ebsworth took 3-30 as Horley were dismissed for 151, Dave Eaton top-scoring with 37.

Youngster Ollie Mersh then scored a fluent 62 not out in Minster’s reply, leading them to 152-5 with more than 11 overs to spare.

Banbury 3rd saw off visitors Great Brickhill 2nd by 33 runs.

Ollie Murrey (44) and Neil Megson (30) helped Banbury to 164-5 in their 50 overs.

Chris Jones hit 50 for Brickhill, but they fell to 131 all out.

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts, who were relegated last season, defeated visitors Stokenchurch by 36 runs.

Arfan Ahmed took 5-25 and Rustum Rabani 3-27 as Stokenchurch were shot out for just 104 in reply to Nondies’ 140 all out.

Oxford Downs 2nd’s match at Cublington was abandoned as the home side’s ground was deemed unfit for play.

In Division 4, new boys Charlbury began their life in the Cherwell League with a convincing 58-run win at East Oxford.

Batting first, Charlbury posted 223-9 in their 50 overs as Ben Forrester hit 78 despite the best efforts of Chetan Walia, who took 3-34.

East Oxford then slumped to 165 all out in reply as Stuart Atkins took 4-27.

Andy Hemming hit a century for Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd in his side’s 60-run victory at home to Long Marston 2nd.

Hemming, unable to commit to 1st XI cricket this season, scored 110 in Shipton’s 194-9.

Veteran spinner Paul Hemming then took 4-30 and Adil Rehman 3-31 as Marston were shot out for 134 in their reply.

Thame Town 2nd began their season with a 31-run win at home to Bletchley Town in a low-scoring affair.

They looked up against it after being shot out for a disappointing total of 119.

But Alistair Thomas then took centre stage for Thame, claiming 4-18 to dismiss visitors Bletchley

for 88 to help secure maximum points.

Tiddington 2nd eased to an eight-wicket win against visitors Abingdon Vale 2nd.

Vale were restricted to 161-9 in their 50 overs, Luke Maslen top-scoring with 33.

Matthew Maule (78) and Colin Bird (32no) then combined to lead Tiddington home at 162-2 in the 32nd over, helped by a woeful bowling display by Vale, who conceded 36 wides.

Witney Mills fell to a 23-run defeat at home to Brackley.

Batting first, Brackley posted 240-6, Adam Wirth hitting 51 and Sam Haselgrove taking 3-39.

Ollie Burney then scored 36 not out and Mike Dove 30, but Mills were held to 217-9, with Rob Cartwright taking 3-39.

In Division 5, PHIL Barnett smashed an unbeaten century as Aston Rowant 3rd beat hosts Leighton Buzzard Town 2nd by 128 runs.

Barnett struck 112 not out as Rowant racked up 250-6 in their 50 overs.

Geraint Hughes then took 4-36 and Jamie Revill 3-26 as Buzzard were bowled out for just 122 in a one-sided clash

Cropredy 2nd edged out hosts Didcot 2nd by two runs in a thriller.

Cropredy posted 199-8 in their 50 overs, Joe Haynes top-scoring with 42, Michael Amos-Simpson scoring 31 and Timothy Bennett chipping in with 30.

George Woodley was the pick of the bowlers with 3-40.

Kieran Beesley (45) and Luke Higgins (31) shone in Didcot’s reply, but they closed agonisingly short on 197-9.

Horspath 3rd saw off hosts Kimble by 15 runs.

But only Adrian Manger (37) fired in the Horspath top order, and they relied on a good partnership between No 7 Stuart Berry and No 9 Hayden Moon to set a decent total of 192-8.

Berry was unbeaten on 54 not out and Moon fell for a quickfire 41, which included five sixes.

Horspath shared the wickets about as they restricted their rivals, eventually bowling them out for 177.

However, Horspath had five points deducted for failing to provide an umpire.

Kingston Bagpuize racked up 263-6 as they beat hosts Cumnor 2nd by 92 runs.

Cumnor were held to 171-8 in their reply.

Dinton 2nd beat hosts Chearsley by 52 runs.

Talib Hussain scored 102 not out in Dinton’s 256-5, before Chearsley fell short as they were bowled out for 204.