BOURTON Vale first-team went top of Cherwell League Division Two with a 103-run win against Oxford and Bletchington.
Asked to bat first, Bourton got off to a solid start, but there was a mid-innings wobble and, at 93-4, the home side looked in trouble.
A stand of 83 between Charlie Garratt (46) and Ed Shaw (42) got the home side back on track.
There was some late-innings entertainment from Stuart Hughes (33) and his partnership with Ryan Newhook (26no) ran the away side ragged. Ryan Hill’s 26 not out got Bourton to an imposing score of 261-7.
In reply, Oxford made a solid start and the game looked to be heading for a draw at 109-2.
But a great catch from Hughes turned the game and captain Lazenbury (3-28) and Ryan Newhook (4-47) cleaned up the tail to give Bourton a great victory. The news was also good in the second team as they recorded a one-wicket win away at Sandford St Martin Seconds.
In a low scoring game, Sandford made 176-8, Matt Kyte took 4-60 and Greg Shepherd 3-33.
In reply, Bourton looked to have had the game in the bag with the reliable Steve Stroud (42) and Jack Boon (39).
But a late innings collapse left 15-year-old Jack Galpin at the crease needing four to win and, with a push through the off side, fired the winning runs to ensure a third victory of the season.
On Sunday, Max Shepherd made his debut for the u9s team at the age of just six years and 46 days.
He scored 19 and took one wicket, as his side beat Ashton Keynes.
