SAMAD Fallah took 6-32 to set up a three-wicket victory for Oxford over visitors Thame Town which sent them to within a point of top spot in Division 2 of the Home Counties Premier League.

The home side’s decision to field first immediately paid off, with Thame skipper Mike Higgs caught by John Barrett off George Munsey for a duck.

Michael Beard steadied the ship until he was run out by Adam Hall, before Fallah took centre stage.

He ripped through the middle order as Thame limped to 97 all out.

Oxford’s chase looked straightforward when Shabaz Alam blasted 45 from 43 balls in an opening stand of 57.

But the hosts wobbled after he was bowled by Hassam Mushtaq, who went on to take 4-59.

Batsmen failed regularly, but Oxford had enough in the tank to claim victory, reaching their target in the 21st over for the loss of seven wickets.

Leaders Horspath were frustrated by Datchet’s last pair, who held out for a draw at the Wally Gage Memorial Ground.

Having posted 205-6 after being put in to bat, Horspath were thwarted by South African Gareth Harte (104no) and James Dick, who survived the last 8.3 overs – including a massive appeal for a catch in the slips – as Datchet closed on 181-9.

Harte’s runs came off 122 balls and included 17 fours, while Horspath skipper Will Eason picked up 3-47 after Adam Price and Lloyd Belcher had taken two wickets apiece.

Earlier, Horspath had been indebted to a sixth-wicket stand of 104 between Shahbaz Ali (74no) and Eason (47) after they had been reduced to 68-5 following a fluent 43 by opener Jimmy Phillips.

Ali’s determined knock came off 123 balls, with one six and seven fours, while Datchet captain Steven Naylor picked up 4-64.

Anupam Sanklecha and Calvin Dickinson starred in Shipton-under-Wychwood’s eight-wicket win in their basement battle with Gerrards Cross.

Sanklecha recorded figures of 7-52 as Gerrards Cross were dismissed for 152 in the 38th over.

Dickinson then took over with the bat, turning the reply into a formality with a blistering 84 not out from just 47 balls – an innings which included nine fours and four sixes.

Andrew Hemming also hit a more pedestrian 38 for a Shipton side who wrapped up a convincing victory in only the 24th over.

Aston Rowant climbed into the top half of the table with an eight-wicket victory at Buckingham Town.

Replying to the home side’s 188-9, their chase became a cruise thanks to an unbeaten 151-run partnership for the third wicket.

Andrew Tolson hit 12 fours and a six in his 93 not out, and he was ably supported by skipper Josh Smith’s unbeaten 68.

Wes Morrick was the pick of Rowant’s attack in the Buckingham innings, taking 5-55 from 19 overs.