CRICKET: Phillips boosts Banbury title bid
10:16pm Sunday 31st August 2008
Banbury moved into the thick of the Home Counties Premier League Division 1 title race with a convincing six-wicket win at home to Welwyn Garden City.
With just one game to go, Benji Hector's side are in second place just five points behind High Wycombe.
So if Banbury win at Henley, and Wycombe fail to beat Welwyn, the north Oxfordshire side will be champions for the second time.
The star for Banbury was off-spinner Jimmy Phillips who captured 5-42 in 19.5 overs, after Welwyn chose to bat first.
The visitors were given a flying start by their Oxon all-rounder Jamie Hewitt, who hit 60 off 109 balls.
But once he had fallen to Ryan Newhook, they struggled against bowling of Phillips and Nathan Hawkes and were dismissed for 171 in the 55th over.
Openers Chris Smith and Simon Hole put on 77 for Banbury's first wicket, before an unbeaten 58 off 81 ball by Hector saw his side home in the 45th over.