CAPTAIN Andy Harris says Great & Little Tew’s home match against relegated Dinton is a “must-win” if they are to secure promotion from Division 2.

Tew still top the league, but had their lead cut to 14 points on Saturday after they were beaten by six wickets at second-placed Gerrards Cross.

With Amersham a further point back in third and Finchampstead another three adrift, Harris knows victory tomorrow would go a long way to securing promotion to Division 1 for the first time.

He said: “It is a must-win game for us at this stage of the season.

“It is all in our hands still, but we have to make sure that we get the results we need.

“I have got confidence in our team, and in our ability. Hopefully we can perform to our potential.”

Tew will be gunning for victory with two key players missing.

Jordan Garrett is playing for South West at the England Under 17 festival in Loughborough, and Martin Coetzee is unavailable.

Lawrence Brock also drops out, with Curtly Slatter, Matt Clark and Lloyd Brock coming into the side.

Dinton prop up the table and seemingly have nothing to play for with bottom place guaranteed.

However, Harris is still wary of their threat.

“I don’t think they will be giving us anything after our victory in the Village Cup last year,” he commented.

“They will be out to get a result, but that cannot affect us. We can only affect what we can control.”

Aston Rowant face a crunch relegation clash at home to Cove.

Josh Smith’s side are two points ahead of their rivals as they battle to avoid filling the second place in the drop zone after both sides recorded victories last weekend.

Shipton-under-Wychwood’s outside promotion hopes are over after losing to Finchampstead next week and the west Oxfordshire side still need another win to ensure safety. They travel to Datchet.

Meanwhile, Banbury head into the penultimate game of the season knowing their chances of landing the Division 1 title are remote.


Last week’s nine-run defeat against championship rivals High Wycombe left Luke Ryan’s side lying third in the table.


Set a target of 226-9, Banbury were dismissed for 217, despite being well-placed at 184-5.


Victory in that match would have seen them move to top of the table, but instead they are now relying on others to lose.


With leaders Wycombe facing second-placed Henley in the final game of the season next week, both would have to be beaten on Saturday to keep alive Banbury’s hopes of the title.


But with Henley facing winless Oxford, and Wycombe hosting struggling Harefield, it will need a shock result to keep Banbury’s season alive for another week.


Ian Crosby’s Oxford side have two matches left to try and record that elusive first victory.


They are 66 points adrift at the foot of the table, having lost 12 of the 14 matches they have played this season.


Horspath took a giant step towards avoiding relegation with last week’s 133-run win over Reading.
Will Eason’s side can secure their safety this week when they travel to Slough.


Victory will ensure the village side will again be playing top-flight cricket next season, but they will also be guaranteed survival if Tring Park pick up no more than ten points in their match at home to Burnham.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Great & Little Tew (v Dinton, home): Harris (capt), White, Lloyd Brock, Slatter, Smith, Clark, Hubbert, Thomas, Manley, Catling, Shurmer.