GREAT & Little Tew came within a whisker of beating leaders Banbury with a superb display in Division 1 of the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League.

Banbury, with five wins out of five, were left hanging on for a draw, as their last pair hung on for the last six overs of this time game.

After being put in to bat, hosts Tew’s top order laid down a solid platform.

Joe White top-scored with 59, ably supported by Jordan Garrett (48) and Dain Moreton (33).

Luke Ryan (4-45) ripped out the middle order, but Tew were not dismissed until the 64th over, when they had reached 216.

Banbury’s reply was built around Kurtis Patterson, who hit an unbeaten 92 from 112 balls.

But aside from a third-wicket stand worth 61 with skipper Lloyd Sabin, the visitors struggle.

Tew skipper Andy Harris took 5-65 to leave Banbury on the brink of defeat at 169-9, but No 11 Bradley Taylor survived 18 balls as they finished on 183-9.

Shipton-under-Wychwood had to settle for a draw at Cookham Dean in Division 2

Craig Wood’s 53 provided the backbone to the start of the visitors’ innings after they had lost the toss.

They stumbled from 56-0 to 79-4, but run-a-ball innings from Calvin Dickinson (61) and Anupam Sanklecha (53) sped them to 243-8 from 51 overs.

Cookham’s top five all contributed, but they could not mount a serious challenge and finished on 203-6.