THAME Town and Oxford will both be playing top-flight cricket next season.

Thame suffered a shock defeat against struggling Amersham, but picked up the three points they needed to secure the title.

Oxford sealed the runners-up spot with a 209-run win over Dinton.

Muhammad Ayub starred with a superb unbeaten 123 off just 92 balls as Oxford made 302-6 off their 50 overs.

Dinton were never in the hunt as Freddie Simon claimed 5-38.

Fittingly, the final wicket to fall went to Oxford stalwart Shami Mendis, who is retiring.

Thame lost by 29 runs at home to Amersham, the visitors avoiding relegation as a result.

The away side were all out for 201, but Thame were then dismissed for 172, only skipper Michael Beard (68) putting up any real resistance.

Oxford Downs saw off Cookham Dean by four wickets to beat the drop, and send their rivals down.

Lawrence Brock took 6-28 as the home side were all out for 140.

Freddie Smith made 54 not out as Downs got home in the 47th over.

HORSPATH’S Lloyd Belcher was crowned Division 1’s leading wicket-taker with 41 victims after taking 2-61 during the 85-run defeat at Oxfordshire rivals Aston Rowant.

Belcher, who broke his own club record last week by taking his tally to 39, led by two from Tom Nugent going into the final match.

The Henley paceman took 3-34 as the champions bowled out Datchet for 149, meaning Belcher’s haul was enough to finish on top – an achievement that is even more impressive considering Horspath were relegated with two games to play.

Chris Watling’s knock helped fire Rowant to 249-8 after they had elected to bat with opener Andrew Tolson hitting 73 from 106 balls, which contained 11 fours.

Horspath were then bowled out for 164 with Tom Cosford and Kyle Hopper making 45 apiece as James Fitzjohn took 4-32 against his old club and Gordon Harris picked up 3-24.

Banbury secured second spot with an emphatic nine-wicket win over Buckingham.

After bowling their hosts out for 187, an unbroken

second-wicket stand of 151 between Joe White (85no) and Olly Clarke (62no) saw the hosts home in 35 overs.