Witney Swifts’ veteran seamer Mark Horne could not hide his delight after taking an incredible five wickets in five balls of the same over, writes NICK FARRANT.

The unusual feat happened in their crushing 264-run victory against Swinbrook 2nd in their opening match of their OCA League Division 8 campaign.

Swifts were in top form, Derek Craig leading the way with a superb 91.

Finlay Boland (76 no) and Rob Pratley (57) also contributed as they rattled up a formidable 329-4.

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Horne, 46, then took centre stage, finishing his three-over spell with staggering figures of 5-1, with all his wickets coming in consecutive deliveries. All were bowled.

Youngster Liam Readhead chipped in with 4-9 from 6.3 overs as Swinbrook were dismissed for 65 to cap a brilliant day for the bowlers.

Dominic Grace hit 35 for the visitors Horne, who is in his second stint at Swifts, having returned from playing at Combe, said he had no inkling of what was going to happen.

“My first over was a maiden and I noticed the ball was swinging a bit,” he said. “When I came back for my second over my first ball just missed the stumps.

“Then I bowled their fellow and then did the same with the next four balls. “They kept coming in – and I kept sending them back.

“The skipper kept me on and I conceded only one run in my next over, but then he took me off. I think it was probably to give the youngsters a bit of a chance to bowl. “I think it’s one of those things that happens once in a lifetime.

“I’ve taken hat-tricks a number of times, but I’ve never done anything like that.” There was a poignant moment before the game at Witney’s ground at The Leys.

Both sets of players stood either side of the stumps, where they observed a minute’s silence for Swifts’ former president and player Percy Fisher, who died last week, aged 90, after a short illness.

Horne said: “Percy was a real club man at Witney Swifts and even when he was well into his 60s he would help us out if we were short.” 

Meanwhile, Sam Walker hit an unbeaten century as Hanborough 2nd recorded a seven-wicket win over Tetsworth 2nd in Division 7.

Paul Langford top-scored with 63 as Tetsworth posted 230-7.

But they reckoned without a superb century from Walker (108no) and Jack Buckingham’s 57 as Hanborough cruised to 233-3.

Wootton & Boars Hill 2nd beat visitors Combe by 55 runs in Division 8.

The hosts posted 256-6 as Michael Hawthorn hit 81 and Mark Taylor 63.

Combe were held to 201-9, Martin Bungay taking 3-14.

In Division 9, Pete Whinfrey’s excellent 68 not out helped Sunningwell 2nd to a three-wicket win over visitors Marcham 2nd.

Marcham posted 181-9, Andrew Barrett taking 4-36, before Sunningwell reached 185-7 to seal victory.

Jake Souch (78), Stuart Wastie (70no) and Ian Urquart (63no) helped Stanton Harcourt 2nd to a crushing 220-run victory at home to Kidlington 3rd.

Stanton rattled up 270-3, before Kidlington were dismissed for 50.

Britwell Salome 2nd saw off Chalgrove by eight runs.

Khursid Ahmed was the star, hitting 43 in Britwell’s 132 total, before taking 4-37 as Chalgrove were dismissed for 124.