A BRILLIANT century from Sam Mendes helped secure Oxfordshire’s place in the semi-finals of the National County Over 50s B competition.

A four-wicket win over Hampshire saw Oxon make it six successive wins in the East Group of the Southern Counties Seniors Championship.

They have ensured their passage to the last four with two games still to play in their debut season in the competition.

Oxon put Hampshire into bat at Horsley Park.

The hosts posted 209-6 from their 45 overs, with Chris Lye top-scoring with 75.

Russell Hayes (31) and Ian Harris (29) gave Oxon a good start in reply, before Mendes entered the stage.

He blasted 100 off just 90 balls, including three sixes and 14 fours, ably supported by skipper Ross Buchanan with 31 not out.

The first team progressed to the knockout stages of the ECB County Championship despite falling to a nine-run defeat to Staffordshire at Banbury.

Alec Cunningham took four wickets to reduce Staffs to 129-5.

But the middle order fought back to help the visitors reach 212-6 off their 45 overs.

In reply, Darryl Woods (54) and Nick Moorman (33) provided a sound platform for Oxon.

But from 96-1 the run rate slowed, despite a resolute 54 from Paul Hemming.

Neil Megson raised his team’s hopes with 26, but Oxon ran out of overs and finished on 203-9.

They will face defending champions Yorkshire in the knockout stages on Sunday, August 7.

OXON beat Bucks by ten runs in the West Midlands Group of the National Over 60 Championship at Bledlow Ridge.

Oxon batted first, posting 227-8, thanks to a secondwicket partnership of 107 between Derek Watts (61) and Steve Partington (60) as well as some superb late order hitting.

In reply, the hosts reached 116 without loss.

But their progress was halted by the introduction of Clive Ricks.

He took 3-47, and they fell just short of Oxon’s total.