LEFT-ARM spinner Chris Humphreys starred with 5-19 as Oxford boosted their Home Counties Premier League Division 1 title hopes with a crushing eight-wicket win at local rivals Horspath.

The emphatic victory sees the Jordan Hill-based outfit move up to second place – 26 points behind leaders Henley, whom they entertain next Saturday.

Horspath, who were bowled out for 123, remain sixth, but are now just 11 points above the relegation zone.

With the hosts being put in to bat on a green pitch just three overs play had been possible when the ground was hit by a massive deluge, leading to the overs split to be reduced to 50-41.

On the resumption, Horspath slumped to 29-3.

Robbie Eason and Tom Cosford took the score to 72 before the latter was run out by Mark Beer going for a single.

The Oxford spinners then took centre stage as Humphreys worked his way through the rest of the order, while Shami Mendis took a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Steve Green off his own bowling.

Humphreys capped his five-wicket haul by accepting a straightforward return chance in the final over from Robbie Eason, who was the last man out for a 44 from 106 balls, which contained a six and one four.

Having seen spin do the trick for Oxford, Horspath opened the bowling with Tom Cosford, who claimed the early wicket of Owyn Tong-Jones.

But then stand-in skipper Jamie Perkin and Ben Charlesworth put on 50 for the second wicket as Oxford cruised to victory at 124-2 in the 35th over.

The 16-year-old Charlesworth finished unbeaten on 53 from 118 balls.

Banbury are just five points behind Oxford in third after a ten-wicket victory at Burnham.

Ollie Wright was the visitors’ star performer with 5-53 from 18 overs as Burnham, put in to bat, were dismissed for 133 in 46 overs.

The seamer dismissed five of the top six in Burnham’s top order, including leading scorer Adnan Malik for 36.

Banbury knocked off the runs without loss in 31.5 overs, Lloyd Sabin making 84 not out, and Craig Haupt unbeaten on 45, taking him ever closer to 10,000 league runs.

Great & Little Tew’s great form continued with a five-wicket victory at home to defending champions Finchampstead.

Two wickets each for Lawrence Brock and Jancan Adams reduced Finchampstead to 32-4 after they had been put in to bat.

There was no respite as Andy Harris nipped in with three wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 104 in the 38th over, Adams returning 4-43 and Harris 3-30.

Tew lost both openers cheaply and then slipped to 45-4. But Jordan Garrett (39no) and Lloyd Brock (34) helped guide Tew home.