SHRIVENHAM began life in Oxfordshire Cricket Association Division Four by coming out on the right side of a thrilling 510-run encounter with Ducklington.

Ducklington had put 254 on the board by tea, thanks to a well-composed century from George Townsend.

But Alex Bowles and Scott Winskill got newly-promoted Shrivenham off to a flyer in the chase and they never looked back, getting over the line with 14 balls to spare to record a famous victory.

All the Shrivenham bowlers looked rusty after skipper Martin Hammond chose to field and soon boundaries were flowing freely.

There were wickets for Naveed Akram, Steve Bowles and Scott Winskill, but successive 50 partnerships for the fourth and fifth wickets put Ducklington in command and on course for 300.

Spinner Manoj Perera claimed three wickets at crucial times, and when Matt Haywood added another two Ducklington had subsided to 199-8. Townsend powered the home side past 250 before being castled by Scott Winskill (2-32) as Perera and Haywood picked up three apiece.

Shrivenham set out knowing a fast start was required and Manoj Perera duly provided, launching Kane Lewis into the trees in his first over. But both Perera and opening partner Steve Bowles had fallen by the fifth over and things looked bleak.

Enter Alex Bowles and Winskill, who came together to add a vital 74 at better than a run a ball, taking the attack to the bowlers and changing the momentum of the game.

The score was 118 in 18 overs when Bowles departed for 48.

Winskill and Haywood continued the attack and Winskill completed a fine half-century before offering a return catch to the slippery Murphy.

Bradley Bowles was adjudged run out without scoring off a free hit – a new rule in the OCA in 2018 but debutant Dan Latter struck some lusty blows as he and Haywood compiled a patient partnership of 67.

They looked to have taken their side to victory before Haywood was given out leg before for 42 with 35 runs still required.

Skipper Hammond remained calm, after running out Latter for 26, and edged his side towards victory.

With 24 required from three overs, the umpires informed the scorer to add 18 penalty runs, six for each of the overs Ducklington had not bowled within their allotted time.

This took the target to six runs from eighteen balls and Hammond and Naveed Akram only needed four of them to seal the points.