HOLDERS Kennington crashed out at the first hurdle as Combe sprung a surprise in the Ron Maudsley Under 13 Knockout Trophy on Sunday.

Put in to bat, Kennington struggled on a slow pitch, and were quickly reduced to 14-2.

However, a fine stand of 40 for the third wicket between Jai Patel and Sam Chilvers saw them recover to close on 82-5 from their 20 overs.

Combe were soon in trouble as Kennington struck quickly, Rajan Semhi taking two wickets in his second over.

But the turning point was again a third-wicket stand of 40, this time between Chris Moore and Robbie Nicholson, as Combe eased home by six wickets.

There was a high-scoring encounter at Banbury, where the home side posted an impressive 125-1, led by Sam Ryan (30no) and Jamie Coles (28).

Visitors Didcot made a spirited reply, with Vishane Perera making an undefeated 30, but they could manage only 101-4.

New boys Shrivenham moved safely into the next round as they saw off Oxford Downs by six wickets, but other newcomers, Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts crashed to a ten-wicket defeat at Great & Little Tew. There was an exciting match at Minster Lovell, where Thame, chasing a target of 101 for victory, came home with an over to spare.

Steve Thomson led the way for Thame with an unbeaten 30.

The day's best bowling performance came from Warborough & Shillingford's Eddie Gray, who claimed a hat-trick in figures of 3-1 against Witney Swifts, helping his side to a 38-run victory.

Elsewhere, Oxford's Henry Anderson-Elliott claimed 3-6 in their nine-wicket victory over Eynsham, while Freeland's Daniel Possee bagged 3-7 against Aston Rowantas Eynsham cruised home by nine wickets.