MINSTER Lovell picked up their first ever Airey Cup triumph with a thrilling six-run victory over Shrivenham in Monday’s final at Great Horwood.

They edged home to collect their second OCA trophy of the season, and maintain their hopes of completing an unprecedented treble as they currently top Division 1.

Shrivenham opted to insert Minster on a damp pitch at Horwood and made quick inroads as Harry Ebsworth fell for a duck.

Wickets fell regularly and Minster at one stage were struggling at 123-6.

But a 60-run stand between Eddie Dunn (50) and skipper Nathan Harris (34) got Minster back on track, and they eventually posted a competitive 204-8.

In reply, Shrivenham lost an early wicket as Charan Chahal fell for 17.

Will Snell and Adam Tucker then shared 87 for the second wicket and Shrivenham appeared well on track for victory.

But after Snell was out, it sparked a Minster revival as Tucker followed soon after for an excellent 71.

Jagi Chahal kept Shrivenham in the hunt with an unbeaten 42, but he lost regular partners at the other end as Minster kept chipping away.

Bryan Barrett and Jack Simpson took two wickets apiece to peg Shrivenham back, and they finished agonisingly short at 198-8.

l THE torrential rain and thunderstorms wreaked havoc on the OCA League programme as only a handful of games managed to reach a conclusion on Saturday.

In Division 1, Charlbury beat the weather to see off hosts Radley by 32 runs.

Batting first, Charlbury posted 145-3 in a rain-reduced match of 28 overs per side.

Bimalka Liyanarachchi top-scored with 41 not out, while Jason Hornsby hit 39 not out.

In reply, Radley crawled to 119-9 as Ashley Rump took 3-11 and Jake Godfrey 3-25.

Wantage defeated hosts Chadlington by seven wickets in Division 2.

Freddie Magee top-scored with 32 in Chadlington’s 132-5 from 25 overs.

Under 14 George Chipchase then claimed 3-29 in Wantage’s reply, but they reached 134-3 as Nick Burton hit 48.

In Division 3, Stanton Harcourt saw off visitors Tetsworth by 22 runs in a match reduced to 25 overs per side.

Callum Parker (46no) and Andy Walker (37) helped Stanton to 177-5, before the pair took four wickets apiece to restrict Tetsworth to 155-8 in reply, despite 56 from Krunal Patel.

Watlington secured promotion from Division 4 after a seven-wicket win at home to Minster Lovell 2nd.

Neil Maguire’s hat-trick in figures of 4-41 was the highlight as Minster were all out for 159, and then James Howlett (68no) and Nicholas Little (45no) led Watlington to 162-3.

The target score method was used in West Ilsley’s 61-run victory at home to Swinbrook.

Wayne Lyford top-scored with 79 and Adam Barnes hit 42 in West Ilsley’s 256-6.

After a heavy downpour, Swinbrook’s target was reduced to 222, but they managed only 161-9 as John Bowness took 4-19, Tom Julian hitting 67 for the visitors.

Garsington missed all the showers to record a 34-run win at home to West Witney in Division 5.

Stephen Prew finished 99 not out as Garsington racked up 245-6, Graham Day also adding 50.

Saurabh Mehrotra scored 92 in West Witney’s reply, but they were bowled out for 211 as James Morrison and Clive Woodward each took 3-59.

In Division 7, Combe edged past hosts Yarnton & Cowley 2nd by two wickets.

The home side were all out for 163, Steve Evans taking 3-59.

Mike Eeley then hit 60 and Mark Francis 50 as Combe squeezed home at 167-8.

Kidlington 3rd defeated visitors Charlbury 3rd by 37 runs in Division 9.

Paul Hewitt (51) and Martin Eagle (50no) helped Kidlington to a useful 161-3 in a rain-reduced 25 overs.

Charlbury closed on 124-7, Alasdair Harley top-scoring with 35.