Great & Little Tew got off to a flying start in Division 2, recording an eight-wicket win at Finchampstead.

Joe White and Matt Clark shared an opening stand of 141 – a league record for Tew – as they passed their target of 167-9 in the 37th over to get off the mark in style.

After choosing to bat first, the hosts lost Simon Bell, bowled by Robbie Shurmer for 19, but then made steady progress.

At 80-1 Finchampstead were in decent shape, but Tew’s Joe Thomas picked up two quick wickets to leave the home side on 82-3.

White soon had Andrew House caught by Matthew Clarke, before Thomas snapped up the key wicket of opener Matthew Jones, who hit 70, to leave the hosts on 123-5.

Max Stevenson was caught by Martin Coetzee off White for three, before Anthony Parson was bowled by Coetzee for a duck as Finchampstead slipped to 137-7.

They managed to get up to 167-9 at the close, with Thomas finishing with 3-50, ably supported by Coetzee (2-22) and White (2-24).

In reply, Tew experienced few difficulties.

White and Clark took the game to their opponents, a superb opening partnership laying the foundation for victory.

White eventually fell for 79, and although Jordan Garrett went for just two, Clark (62no) and Harry Smith saw them home with plenty of time to spare.

Jamie Perkin and Andrew Hemming shared a third-wicket stand of 106 as Shipton-under-Wychwood opened with a six-wicket victory at home to Buckingham Town.

Shipton passed their target of 192-8 with just nine balls remaining in a Division 2 match reduced to 45 overs a side because of rain.

Although Anupam Sanklecha struck early after Shipton chose to bowl first, Buckingham kept the scoreboard ticking along.

When Robert Large (40) was caught by Stuart Hole off Charlie Brain’s bowling, they were 58-2 in 14 overs.

Shipton, however, stuck to their task and took wickets regularly.

Oxfordshire’s Jonny Cater made a gritty 41, and a late flurry from Steve Lewis, with 33 not out off 36 balls, saw the visitors set a decent total.

Tim Senior went cheaply in Shipton’s reply, and Simon Hole was next to fall, caught by James Gear off the bowling of Vishal Valambia.

However, that brought Perkin to the crease and he produced a superb knock to steer his side to the brink. His innings of 70 came off just 64 balls and contained five sixes and four fours.

Backed up by Hemming, whose 55 came from 118 deliveries, their partnership of 106 was ended when Perkin was caught by Gear.

Hemming fell with the score on 185, but Sam Jones and Sanklecha saw Shipton home.