SHRIVENHAM squeaked home in their Oxfordshire Cricket Association Division Four clash against Deddington thanks to a blistering half-century from Manoj Perera and a match-winning unbeaten 36 from Richard Deacon.

Bowling first, Martin Hammond’s men made the perfect start as Naveed Akram claimed a first-over victim, but Deddington then frustrated the hosts by adding 50 for the second wicket before Georgia Brown bowled Ollie Roberts.

Deacon bowled his best spell of the season as Shrivenham chipped away, while fellow spinners Perera and Matt Haywood kept things tight in the final overs to restrict the division’s bottom side to 147-8 from their 45 overs.

Perera and Keith Alvey put on 59 for the first wicket to get Shrivenham’s run chase off to a comfortable start.

Perera made 51 of those, scoring 50 runs in boundaries despite facing no more than 30 balls.

However, his dismissal triggered a collapse as Haywood fell for a second-ball duck.

Alvey followed in the next over, and Alex Tomlinson the one after that, leaving a slightly below-strength batting line-up at 65-4.

Deacon, though, took command along with Bradley Bowles (19) as the pair put on a crucial 44 to turn the game back towards Shrivenham.

Akram added another 17 with Deacon as Shrivenham edged towards their target before falling with 25 runs required.

Skipper Hammond set about the task with Deacon, their partnership ticking off 11 runs in eight overs before seven runs off Verma’s over put the result beyond doubt.