NATHAN Hawkes hit a brilliant 157 to set Banbury on the way to a 79-run victory at Bishop’s Stortford in Division 1.

The Oxfordshire batsman’s towering ton came off 109 balls with nine fours and 12 sixes.

It took Banbury to an impressive 302-6 dec off 61 overs after skipper Ian Hawtin won the toss and chose to bat.

Hawkes was given good support in a stand of 186 for the fourth wicket by Richard West, whose unbeaten 78 came off 156 balls with six fours and three sixes.

Off spinner Jimmy Phillips then took centre stage with 5-69 as Bishop’s Stortford were bowled out for 223.

Alex Keath top-scored for the hosts with 59, his runs coming in 80 balls with three fours and four sixes, before he became one of Phillips’s five victims.