Brad Sutherland took a dramatic hat-trick to help Oxford become the Red Insure Home Counties Twenty 20 champions at Rover Cowley yesterday.

Sutherland returned the amazing figures of 4-3 in just 15 balls as Oxford thrashed Harpenden by 65 runs in the final.

Skipper Ian Crosby received the trophy for Oxford, who now progress to the area finals at a venue in Middlesex on Sunday, August 14.

Batting first , Oxford got off to a flier and were 50-1 after five overs.

They made 140-8 from their 20 overs, with their top scores coming from Chris Sandbach (40) and Stuart Hole (36).

Harpenden, thanks to taking 24 off an over from Hole, raced to 53-3 in five overs, most of them to Chris Warn who made 37.

But Sutherland changed the game, taking one wicket at the end of his first over and two more at the start of his second.

The innings disintegrated and the Hertfordshire crashed to 75 all out in 12.3 overs. Oxford had reached the final with a last over six-wicket success against rivals Henley.

Henley scored 147-9, despite Shamilal Mendis returning the impressive figures of 4-22, and Ian Evans taking 3-30.

Oxford got home with four balls to spare, thanks to an unbeaten 65 from Nick Ferraby and 40 from Chris Sandbach.

Harpenden were given walkover in the semi-final, as opponents, Welwyn Garden City had scratched from the tournament’s finals day, which was originally scheduled last month, but had to be postponed due to rain.

RED INSURE HOME COUNTIES LEAGUE TWENTY 20.

Semi-final: Henley 147-9 (S Mendis 4-22, I Evans 3-30), Oxford 148-4 (19.2 ovs, N Ferraby 65no, C Sandbach 40).

Final: Oxford 140-8 (C Sandbach 40, S Hole 36), Harpenden 75 (12.3 ovs, C Warn 37, B Sutherland 4-3).

SHIPTON-under-Wychwood have been drawn to play Great Tew in the semi-finals of the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup.

In the other last four match Banbury will take on eirther Tiddington or Aston Rowant.

Both semi-finals and the final will take place at Great Tew on Sunday, September 4.