OXFORDSHIRE’S Home Counties Premier League Division 1 sides began the season in style as they all claimed opening-day victories.

Jamil Faruq ripped the heart out of Burnham’s batting with superb figures of 5-29 to set visitors Horspath up for a convincing six-wicket win.

Bowling first change, the seamer took advantage of a tacky pitch to destroy the hosts’ top order as they were restricted to 184-9 from their 50 overs after being put in to bat.

He removed the dangerous Aftab Khan and captain Harveer Gandam within the space of three balls, before following up with the wickets of Raminder Singh and Karan Kumar as Burnham slumped from 50-1 to 71-5.

Faruq, who was well supported by left-arm spinner Lloyd Belcher (2-33), completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing obdurate opener Faha Raja, whose 62 came off 137 balls with four boundaries.

Horspath recovered from losing Jamie Stead without a run scored as Robbie Eason (32) and Tom Coleman (47) put on 83 for the second wicket, before Rameez Raja added 29.

It was left to Tom Cosford, whose unbeaten 45 came off 32 balls and included two sixes and four boundaries, and Harrison Ward (29no) to see Horspath home at 188-4 with 4.2 overs to spare.

Mohammad Ayub hit 100 to fire fellow newly-promoted side Oxford to a 50-run at Finchampstead.

The batsman, who played a Test match for Pakistan in 2012, arrived at the crease with the visitors 13-2 after openers Harvey Eltham and Owyn Tong-Jones fell cheaply.

Ayub went on to hit 12 boundaries in his 111-ball innings, backed up by skipper John Barrett’s 58, to help them reach 237-9.

In reply, Finchampstead never really looked like threatening a successful chase as wickets fell regularly.

Andrew Clough (3-38) was the pick of their attack as the hosts were dismissed for 187 in the 43rd over.

Opener Craig Haupt struck 116 to help steer Banbury to a 23-run victory at home to Tring Park.

He hit 15 fours and a six, sharing lengthy partnerships with Lloyd Sabin (49) and Tom Bartlett (44), before being run out in the final over as they reached 261-4.

Spinner Richard West took 4-40, but Banbury could not relax until Charles Hill ran out Haseeb Ali to dismiss Tring for 238 in the 49th over.

The tightest of the four games was at Great & Little Tew, who beat Henley by ten runs in the final over.

Jordan Garrett top-scored with 77 as Tew’s batsmen all chipped in with runs for their 242-8.

Henley looked on the ropes at 165-7 as Ian Bryan (3-39) and Andy Harris (3-55) struck, but the tail wagged to get the visitors to 232, when Harris caught Monty Singh off Robbie Shurmer with four balls remaining.

AN OPENING partnership of 132 between Thomas Condon and George Reid set Aston Rowant up for an 87-run win at Shipton-under-Wychwood in Division 2.

Condon’s 80 included 13 fours and a six, while Reid’s 63 was more conservative.

Both eventually fell to Aditya Rai, but Rowant skipper Josh Smith built on the solid platform with an unbeaten 58, which came off only 50 balls.

Chasing 283 for victory, the hosts were in big trouble at 55-6 as Gordon Harris (4-30) and Wes Morrick (3-17) starred.

Resistance came in the form of Shaun Cross, who hit 39 not out to add to his 3-61, but the chase looked forlorn well before they were all out for 195 in the 45th over.

Gamindu Kanishka’s rapid 121 was the highlight as Thame Town thrashed hosts Datchet by 105 runs.

The Sri Lankan hit nine fours and six sixes in his 109-ball innings, sharing a 125-run stand with Will Sutcliffe (65).

In reply to Thame’s 347-6, Datchet captain Gareth Harte hit 101, before becoming one of Hassam Mushtaq’s victims (5-63) as their chase hit the buffers in the 45th over.