BANBURY captain Lloyd Sabin is backing overseas star Aizaz Cheema to build on his first five-wicket haul.

The north Oxfordshire side travel to Division 1 leaders Henley in the Home Counties Premier League tomorrow.

Banbury are unbeaten in four games, while ex-Pakistan international Cheema took 5-33 – his best figures of the season – as they cruised to victory over Horspath last week.

The 37-year-old has now taken eight wickets in his last two matches, taking his tally for 2017 to 15, and Sabin, who names an unchanged team, is tipping the seamer to continue his form.

He said: “He’s bowled well all season, he’s been unlucky.

“He’s deserved a few more wickets and we’re all pleased for him.

“It’s good for the team as well, so hopefully it continues.”

The Oxford Road-based side crashed to 94 all out last week.

But captain Will Eason is confident his side will bounce back.

He said: “We’re naming the same XI. Mainly availability has, firstly, enabled us to do that.

“But the guys, including myself, that did not perform want that opportunity to put the wrongs right.

“Hopefully we will put in a better performance.”

Horspath beat last season’s champions earlier this season, but Finchampstead’s form has picked up and Eason is expecting a tough test.

He said: “Hopefully we can see some sort of reaction.”

John Barrett is backing Oxford to move on from last week’s frustrating draw when they host Slough.

Despite dominating a rain-shortened match at High Wycombe, the hosts hung on to avoid defeat.

Captain Barrett was encouraged by Oxford’s display.

He said: “I was pleased with the performance, but disappointed we could not get the 25 points in a game we deserved to win.

“We didn’t play Slough earlier this year as it was washed out, so I don’t know much about them since we played them two years ago.

“They can beat anyone, but we back ourselves.”

Andrew Clough is away, so Freddie Simon returns.

Great & Little Tew host Burnham in a bottom-of-the-table clash.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Banbury (v Henley, away): Haupt, Clarke, Sabin, Hill, West, Phillips, Wright, Hawtin, Taylor, Cheema, Wilkins.

Horspath (v Finchampstead, home): Coleman, O’Connor, Fitzjohn, R Eason, Cosford, Jefferson, Green, W Eason, Slatcher, Faruk, Belcher.

Oxford (v Slough, home): Tong-Jones, Charlesworth, Ayub, Perkin, Barrett, Mendis, Beer, Fallah, Musk, Humphreys, Simon.

SKIPPER Michael Beard is predicting Thame Town will be in for a battle when they welcome Amersham to Church Meadow.

A thrilling five-run victory over Buckingham Town last week, which was sealed off the penultimate ball, has lifted spirits at the club after back-to-back defeats in Division 2.

Thame are three places ahead of Amersham, but only 11 points separate the sides and Beard expects a difficult game in the Home Counties Premier League.

He said: “It’s always a tough game, particularly in this format, and their overseas (Maduka Liyanapathiranage) is a very good bowler.

“Coming off the high of last week, we’re looking to build momentum.

“After Amersham we have some easier games and we’ll be looking to go on a bit of a run.”

Dan Patey replaces the unavailable James Adams.

Shipton-under-Wychwood make one enforced change for their trip to Chesham.

Veteran spinner Shaun Miller, who took four wickets in the convincing victory over Harefield last week, is on holiday.

Ian Lewis comes into the side, so Tom Swann will shoulder the slow bowling duties.

Shipton skipper Charlie Brain said: “Although we are third from bottom, we are in fact nearer the top than the bottom points-wise.

“I thought we bowled really well as a unit last week, with Scott (Harris) supporting Pam (Anupam Sanklecha) and Shaun well.

“We were unlucky in a rain-affected game against Chesham earlier in the season.

“There is no reason why we can’t beat them.”

Aston Rowant will hope to bounce back when they travel to Harefield.

The leaders salvaged a draw in their top-of-the-table clash with Datchet last week despite slumping to 21-6.

Their lead has now been cut to 22 points.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Shipton-u-Wychwood (Chesham, away): Brain, A Hemming, Wood, C Miller, Hole, Sanklecha, Davies, Lewis, Cross, S Harris, Swann.

Thame Town (v Amersham, home): C Russell, Sutcliffe, Kanishka, Beard, Straughan, Phippen, Mushtaq, A Russell, Rooney, Jeffcock, Patey.