Champions Banbury at last returned to winning ways on Saturday, defeating lowly Radlett by six wickets in the Home Counties Premier League.

On a seaming wicket, Oxfordshire paceman Ian 'Grizzly' Adams accounted for three of the home side's top four as a personal cost of 27 runs in 16 accurate overs, while the evergreen Neal Radford dealt with the middle order, claiming 4-36 in 19 overs.

David Taylor picked up a couple of cheap wickets before Radlett's last pair frustrated the visitors for ten overs.

They added added 27 runs, the highest stand of the innings, before Matt Fitz- patrick was finally disposed of for the side's top score of 27.

The home seamers soon had the alarm bells ringing in the visitors' dressing room as Banbury slumped to 23-3, and a shock was on the cards.

Atthis point, Mark Barratt joined Shahbaz Ali, and these two turned things round with a partnership of 62 in just 11 overs before Barratt fell for a good 37 off 34 balls, including six fours.

Taylor needed just five balls to hit the two sixes needed to secure victory with 43 overs still remaining.

Victory maintains the pressure on leaders Finchampstead, who visit Banbury next week.

RADLETT

J Allen b Adams...5

M Fielden lbw Radford...13

D Robinson b Adams...1

S Moffatt c Hill b Adams...19

D Warren c Megson b Radford...2

I Edwards lbw Radford...2

M Fitzpatrick c Megson b Ali...27

J Engelke c Taylor b Radford...2

D Rennee b Taylor...1

C Luffman b Taylor...2

S Drake not out...5

Extras...22

Total (all out, 45.3ovs)...98

Bowling: Rorich 8-0-12-0, Adams 16-6-27-3, Radford 19-7-36-4, Taylor 7-2-7-2, Ali 2.3-0-8-1.

BANBURY

A Sabin c Luffman b Browne...7

C Haupt c Warren b Browne...3

T Smith c sub b Engelke...4

S Ali not out...34

M Barratt b Moffatt...37

D Taylor not out...12

Extras...4

Total...(4 wkts, 31.6 ovs)...101

Bowling: Engelke 8-1-33-1, Browne 9-3-37-2, Edwards 3-0-16-0, Moffatt 2-0-16-1.

* Radlett 4pts, Banbury 25