Division 1

SHAHBAZ Ali smashed a six off the final ball to earn Horspath a dramatic four-wicket win at Twyford.

Horspath boosted their title hopes by being the only one of the top sides to win, but left it very late.

Needing seven to win off the final over from Bilal Afzal, Horspath scored just one off the first five balls before Ali fired a low full toss over backward square leg for a maximum.

Unbeaten Horspath now have a 66-point lead with five weeks of the season remaining.

The hosts compiled 182 thanks principally to Shahid Mahmood (51), and would have managed more had Lloyd Belcher (3-48) and Will Eason (3-56) not interrupted their progress.

Afzal (3-56) gave Twyford a sniff of an upset, but Eason (45) and then Ali (67no) took Horspath to 183-6.

Twyford 9pts, Horspath 25

Despite being on the wrong end of a draw, Shipton-under-Wychwood stayed above Buckingham Town, whose 30-point penalty has all but ended their title aspirations.

Simon Myatt (54) and Jack Parish (50) took Buckingham to 212-7 before Jack Parish (5-55) looked like bowling them to victory.

But a defiant George Seacole (87) steered Shipton to 156-9.

Buckingham Town 19, Shipton-under-Wychwood 5

Oxford Downs climbed off the foot of the table by earning 17 points against draw specialists Banbury 2nd.

The prolific Wes Bartlett hit 75, while Steve Hart captured 4-65 in Downs’ 211-8, which always looked to many for the hosts, who crawled to 146-7.

Justin Lambden imp-ressed with 53, while Steve Roberts took 3-30 on a rare appearance for the first team.

Banbury 2nd 5, Oxford Downs 17

Oxford 2nd and Thame Town played out a draw that leaves them both looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone.

Deon Laubscher (54) and skipper Mike Higgs (52) took Thame to 204-7 in an innings reduced by rain to 43 overs. Harvey Eltham (3-20) was the pick of the home attack.

Will Rooney then claimed 3-29 as Oxford struggled to 131-8 from 37 overs after tea.

Oxford 2nd 5, Thame Town 18

Garth Davson (6-38) and Pete Hastings (4-32) were too good for struggling Leighton Buzzard Town, who were rolled over for 95.

Anton de Beer battered 65 not out as Great Brickhill raced to 96-1 in 100 balls to ease their own relegation worries.

Great Brickhill 25, Leighton Buzzard Town 1