A MAGNIFICENT double-century opening stand between Nathan Harris and Harry Ebsworth helped Minster Lovell to a resounding eight-wicket victory at home to Great Horwood to keep up the pressure at the top of Division 1.

On a superb batting track in the OCA League, the visitors posted an under-par 204-4, despite a brilliant 120 not out from Sam Willett.

And skipper Harris (103) and Ebsworth (83no) made light work of the target as Minster eased to 205-2 with more than 11 overs to spare.

Stonesfield fell to a four-wicket defeat at Faringdon.

Alex Robinshaw (5-28) and Ben Marks (4-52) combined to dismiss Stonesfield for 146, and then Rob Owen hit 84 to steer Faringdon to 147-6.

Charlbury fell to six-wicket defeat at home to Yarnton & Cowley, for whom Asif Shah had a fine day.

Shah claimed 5-54 as the hosts were bowled out for 143, before top-scoring with 55 not out, which saw Yarnton home at 145-4.

Chipping Norton crashed to a nine-wicket defeat at Oxenford.

Pramod Murali (4-9) and Aaron Hirtenstein (3-29) combined to dismiss Chippy for only 102, and then Zain Iqbal hit 67 not out in Oxenford’s 106-1.

In Division 2, Chadlington were skittled out for just 43 as they crashed to a nine-wicket defeat at Clifton Hampden.

Alistair Slay was chief destroyer, taking 5-23, while Laurence Harvey took 4-12. Clifton then eased to 47-1.

Matthew Neilsen’s 90 set Hanborough on their way to 285-7 and a 163-run win against visitors Marcham in Division 3.

Aston Leach chipped in with 71 not out, and Richard Brown took 5-21 to dismiss Marcham for 122.

Stanton Harcourt lost a thriller at home to Fringford by one run.

John Bacon’s 46 and Royston Blake’s 36 saw Fringford to 196 all out, Andy Walker taking 4-44.

Stanton were always in the hunt, helped by Callum Parker’s 56, but they finished agonisingly short on 195-9.

Kilkenny were edged out by visitors Tetsworth by two wickets.

Ritesh Mistry (4-35) and Sailesh Babu (3-28) bowled well for the visitors as Kilkenny were bowled out for 127.

Darren Gordon (4-46) and Chris May (3-22) kept Kilkenny in the hunt, but Tetsworth crept to 128-8 to secure victory.

In Division 4, Swinbrook were knocked off top spot after a four-wicket defeat at home to Uffington.

Tim Martin hit 106 in Swinbrook’s 272-5, but the hosts reached 273-6 in the penultimate over to dent Swinbrook’s title hopes.

Hailey saw off visitors Minster Lovell 2nd by 27 runs.

Jack Wood (62) and Andy Wood (51) saw Hailey to 182 all out, Zak Jarvis taking 4-32.

Youngster Dee Jarvis then hit 47 in Minster’s reply, but they fell to 155 all out as Andy Wood took 3-34.

Bampton’s lead at the top of Division 5 was cut after they lost by six wickets at Britwell Salome.

David Coates claimed 4-12 for Britwell, restricting Bampton to 189 all out.

Hassan Khurshi then top-scored with 84 not out and Coates hit 35 to steer Britwell to 192-4.

Charlbury 2nd crashed to a 186-run defeat at Garsington.

Nigel Coltman (65) and Sam Wharton (57no) were the stars in Garsington’s 255-7, which proved way beyond Charlbury.

They were shot out for only 69 as James Morrison returned superb figures of 5-15.

Chipping Norton 2nd lost by 68 runs at home to Kennington.

Graham Rowley’s 54 saw Kennington to 164 all out, and then Russell Vircavs claimed 4-21 and Rowley 3-22 as Chippy were bowled out for 96.

Fine knocks from Simon Ridgway (82) and Simon Gale (80) helped Great Horwood 2nd to a 90-run win at home to West Witney.

The duo shared a fourth-wicket stand of 141 to help Horwood to 194-5.

Sixteen-year old Deran Taylor then picked up 3-20 as West Witney were bowled out for 104.

In Division 7, Ducklington won their top-of-the-table clash against Combe.

Jacob Hughes returned 6-34 and George Townsend 4-16 as the visitors were skittled for 99, allowing Ducklington plenty of time to reach 103-4 and a fine victory.

There was high emotion at Minster Lovell 3rd, who hosted Witney Swifts 2nd, just a few days after the death of Swifts’ Andy Fisher.

And the players served up a treat as Minster edged home by 15 runs in a high-scoring clash.

Ed Price (75) and Keith Wright (49no) led the hosts to 246-6 in their 45 overs.

Swifts gave a great run chase, but finished just short on 231-9, Lee McGuinness top-scoring with 80 and Perry Tinson hitting 58 not out.

Stonesfield 2nd edged out visitors Yarnton & Cowley 2nd by two wickets.

Cam Elphick took 3-28 in Yarnton’s 141 all out, Waheed Rehman top-scoring with 68.

Stonesfield lost regular wickets, but Mickey Phipps (48) held the innings together as they reached 142-8.

Stanton Harcourt 2nd had their lead at the top of Division 8 cut by second-placed Chadlington 2nd, who ran out 27-run victors.

Jason Chipchase hit 99 not out and Leo Lambert 83 as Chadlington racked up 249-3 in their 45 overs.

Stanton fought all the way with fine knocks from Rob Graham (45) and Simon Hadland (37), but they were all out for 222 as William Doar took 3-59.

Harinath Ellanki took 7-45 as Division 9 leaders Chesterton saw off hosts Charlbury 3rd by 18 runs.

Peter Whitlock’s 65 and 58 from Alfie Appleton helped Chesterton to 182 all out.

Ellanki’s haul then saw Charlbury fall for 164.

There was a high-scoring clash at Deddington 2nd, who beat Hook Norton 2nd by 48 runs.

Martyn Collins (80) led Deddington to 266-8.

Robert How took 5-65 in Hooky’s reply as they were held to 218-9, despite 66 from Max Harris.

Steve Lewis (74) and Phillip Austin (61) helped Hanney to 247-6 to set up a 134-run win at home to Swinbrook 2nd.

Minster Lovell reached the last four of the Airey Cup after a 111-run win at Wootton & Boars Hill on Sunday.

Minster set 215 as Jack Simpson hit 42, Dave Prosper 39 and Archie Spittles 36.

Simpson then claimed 5-23 and Brian Barrett 4-18 as Wootton were all out for 104.