Home Counties Premier League: Oxford are safe. A four-wicket win at Basingstoke & North Hants on Saturday banished their Division 1 relegation fears.

Skipper Rupert Evans again played the key role, taking 6-36 off 22 overs after winning the toss and putting Basingstoke into bat on a match switched to their 3rd XI pitch with their first team square under water.

In what could be his last game as captain, Evans worked his way through the order as Basingstoke were bowled out for 169.

Johnny Nambiar then set Oxford on the way to victory with a fluent 36, before Pat Jobson, Adam Cook and Graham Charlesworth made useful contributions to see the relieved visitors home at 172-6.

BASINGSTOKE

L H Nurse c & b Nambiar...0

I Maynard b R Evans...59

A Giles c Shazad Rana b R Evans...14

D Nurse c Shazad Rana b R Evans...9

S Dyer lbw R Evans...0

R Hunter lbw I Evans...24

J Goveti lbw R Evans...18

C Chandler b I Evans...3

G Tonge c R Evans b I Evans...22

K Harsham lbw R Evans...0

K Harris not out...0

Extras...20

Total (all out, 63.3 ovs)...169

Fall: 1-3, 2-63, 3-97, 4-97, 5-98, 6-134, 7-139, 8-154, 9-163.

Bowling: Charlesworth 10-3-19-0, Nambiar 11-2-36-1, R Evans 22-10-36-3, Shahbaz Ali 14-4-4-0, I Evans 6.3-0-31-3.

OXFORD

K Mustow c D Nurse b Harris...15

A Nambiar c Hunter b Harsham...36

Shahbaz Ali c Dyer b Harsham...9

P Jobson c Tonge b Dyer...35

A Cook lbw Tonge...24

G Charlesworth c Chandler b Tonge...22

I Evans not out...8

I Crosby not out ...11

Extras...12

Total (6 wkts, 47.4 ovs)...172

Fall: 1-49, 2-59, 3-67, 4-116, 5-140, 6-159.

Bowling: Tonge 13-0-50-2, Chandler 4-1-24-0, Harsham 11-2-32-2, Harris 12.4-2-40-1, Dyer 7-0-21-1.

Basingstoke & NH 7pts, Oxford 25