Bicester and North Oxford recorded their first win of the season with a hard-earned four-wicket victory away to Basingstoke and North Hants in Division 1 on Saturday.

It was the bowlers who were behind the success, dismissing the home side for 145 after Bicester skipper Darryl Woods had won the toss and elected to field.

Basingstoke lost wickets steadily and were 70-8 at one stage before some late defiance by the tailenders took them into three figures.

Mark Stanway and Ben France each picked up three wickets, while there were two apiece for Graham Savin and Paul Jeacock.

Bicester lost James France for a duck in their reply but new Aussie Rod Davison and county skipper Rob Williams steadily took them to within sight of victory before both were dismissed.

Savin then weighed in with an unbeaten 20 as Bicester got home in the 63rd over.

BASINGSTOKE & NORTH HANTS

L Nurse c Jeacock b Stanway...21

R Drury c Woods b Stanway...6

R Rawlings c Davison b B France...2

I Maynard c Jeacock b Savin...9

D Nurse c Williams b Savin...11

N Willoughby c Chapman b Jeacock...1

R Pavesi c Davison b Jeacock...0

R Hunter not out...33

K Harris c Savin b B France ...2

C Connor b Stanway...29

C Willoughby c Slade b B France...21

Extras...10

Total (all out, 55.3 ov)...145

Fall: 1-11, 2-30, 3-30, 4-50, 5-51, 6-52, 7-58, 8-70, 9-116.

Bowling: Stanway 11-2-51-3, B France 8.3-1-22-3, Savin 13-2-22-2, Jeacock 15-5-29-2, Slade 8-3-15-0.

BICESTER & NORTH OXFORD

J France lbw Willoughby...0

R Davison c Hunter b Harris...45

D Woods b Chandler...8

R Williams b Pavesi...32

B France ct & b Pavesi...4

I Hawtin c Hunter b Willoughby...12

G Savin not out...20

B Chapman not out...9

Extras... 9

Total (6 wkts, 62.3 ov)...146

Fall: 1-0, 2-9, 3-61, 4-86, 5-96, 6-135.

Bowling: Willoughby 16.3-3-45-2, Chandler 9-3-29-1, Pavesi 18-9-26-2, Harris 19-5-37.1