OCA League Divisions 1-4

CLIVE Woodward was the hero for Division 1 new-boys Garsington as he produced a superb all-round display to inspire them to victory over Westbury on the opening day on Saturday.

Woodward hit 46 in Garsington’s 188-7, before producing a remarkable spell of bowling to take 6-25 as Westbury were bowled out for 170.

Great Horwood defeated Marcham by 45 runs – a result which suggests the league will be a lot closer than previous seasons.

Batting first, Horwood crawled to 139-8, Sam Willett scoring 53.

But Marcham, among the fav-ourites for the title this season, crashed to 94 all out in their response as Nick Glister took 5-27 and Robby Taylor 3-30.

Elsewhere in the top division, rain intervened.

Shrivenham were poised for victory against Freeland, who had posted 149-5.

Mark Whale (53no) had led Shrivenham to 109-2 before the heavens opened.

East Oxford looked set for victory against Tetsworth, only for the rain to have the final say.

Having posted 177 all out, East Oxford had restricted their hosts to 132-8, Ali Malik taking 5-30, but the rain came to Tetsworth’s rescue.

In Division 2, only two matches reached a conclusion.

Witney Swifts made a disastrous start as they crashed by ten wickets at home to Letcombe.

Martin Turnbull (5-12) and Richard Taylor (5-10) combined as Swifts were skittled for just 53, before Letcombe cruised in.

And Minster Lovell fared little better as they lost by seven wickets at Marsh Gibbon.

Carl Needham took 4-39 as Minster were shot out for 106, before Joe Leonard (49no) led Marsh Gibbon to 108-3.

Sam Hibberd took six wickets to help Stonesfield to a five-wicket win at Clifton Hampden in Division 3.

Hibberd’s 6-40 and Steve Litten’s 3-17 saw the home side rolled over for 84.

Fringford’s total of 169 all out was always going to be too much for West Ilsley.

Kevin Hicks (5-20) and Charlie Thomas (3-31) then combined as the Berkshire side were dismissed for 120 in reply.

Mark Haigh took 6-27 for Eynsham at Westcott, only for the game to be washed out.

Westcott had scored 184 all out and Eynsham were well-placed at 79-3 when the rain came.

All matches had a conclusion in Division 4 as low scores featured heavily.

Deddington beat Brill by four wickets having bowled their hosts out for 109.

Jason Barton (39no) led the way as Deddington got over the line, despite 5-29 from Darren Kavanagh.

Danny Harding’s hard-hitting 53 helped Chadlington to a nine-wicket win against Britwell Salome, who had been shot out for 89.

Charlbury 2nd fared even worse, falling to 74 all out at Oxford Rescue, for whom Danny Wells took 7-22.

John Slade (32) then led Rescue to 75-4.

Wootton & Boars Hill successfully chased down 196 for a three-wicket win at Winslow Town.

James Gaskins (80) had shone for Wootton, before Damien Wiskin (57) and Michael Reeve (49) saw Wootton to 198-7.