Minster Lovell enjoyed a fantastic debut in the Cherwell League as their top three teams all tasted victory.

Leigh Smith was the star of the show as their Division 4 campaign began with a comprehensive 129-run victory at Horspath 3rd.

Minster set a useful total of of 250 all out, skipper Harry Ebsworth top-scoring with 51 and Steve Berry taking 5-70 for the hosts.

Horspath had no answer to seamer Smith, who finished with outstanding figures of 5-13 as the home side were dismissed for 121, Bryan Barrett also claiming 3-27.

The club’s 2nd team won a low-scoring thriller by one wicket at home to Horspath 4th in Division 7.

Skipper Ben Spencer took 5-27 as Horspath were all out for 131 and then finished 30 not out, hitting the winning boundary, as Minster reached 135-9.

Minster Lovell’s hat-trick was completed by a 61-run victory for the 3rd XI at Kingston Bagpuize 2nd.

Youngster Ashley Horne carried his bat for 107 not out as Minster set 218-4 in their 45 overs.

Mark Horne then took 3-7 as Kingston were bowled out for 157, Stuart Edwards hitting 66.

Oxford Downs’s first game back in the Cherwell League’s top flight ended in a three-wicket loss at home to Dinton.

Skipper Wasim Mehmood top-scored with 48, but Downs would have been disappointed with their total of 170, Akeel Khan taking 5-39.

Downs debutant Matt Woods took 4-55 in Dinton’s reply as the visitors lost regular wickets but, thanks largely to Faisal Ali’s 54 not out, Dinton reached the target in the 48th over.

Great & Little Tew 2nd were routed by 197 runs at Didcot in Division 2.

Vishane Perera hit 139 from 142 balls and was backed up by Richard Cook’s rapid 59 as the hosts racked up a formidable 294-6 dec in 47 overs.

Tew were shot out for just 97, Lawrence Brock top-scoring with just 23, as Robert Keat took 6-32.

Sandford St Martin were also on the receiving end of a one-sided contest, going down by 140 runs at home to Buckingham Town 2nd.

Ben Laycock smashed 110 and Steve Beck 97 as Buckingham declared on 293-6 in the 47th over, Tom Goffe taking 3-50 for Sandford.

Phillip Nicholas (39) was the pick of the hosts’ reply, as they slumped to 153 all out.

Ollie Burney starred for Witney Mills to lead his side to a four-wicket win at Dinton 2nd in Division 4.

Burney’s 5-72 helped dismiss the home side for 169 in 43 overs, veteran Steve Kelly chipping in with 3-29.

Mills’s reply was led by Sam Haselgrove, who hit 50 as they reached 170-6 in the 40th over.

Jason Hunt smashed 128 in just 56 balls for Shipton-under-Wychwood 3rd, but his side could not force victory at home to Abingdon Vale 3rd in Division 8.

Hunt hit 13 fours and 10 sixes in Shipton’s 279-9, Justin Hemming also scoring 66.

Vale were never in the hunt, opting to shut up shop for a draw, closing on 170-5.