Sabin hits unbeaten ton as Banbury beat the champions

And it came at the home of reigning champions High Wycombe, where Banbury won Saturday’s division one fixture by 37 runs.

Having been put into bat, Banbury made a solid start with openers Hugo Darby 48 and Craig Haupt 32 putting on 71 runs for the first wicket. When those departed in quick succession, Kurtis Patterson and Sabin accelerated the score along to 152-3.

Sabin was joined by Richard West 22 and the pair put on 98 runs as the visitors reached 250-4. Sabin remained at the crease and reached 137no with the Banbury captain hitting nine fours and eight sixes off just 89 balls as the visitors posted an impressive 319-5.

In reply, opener Garth Davson was the mainstay of the champions’ challenge, ably backed by Paul Sawyer 33. Davson and Nathan Hawkes 32 took Wycombe to 203-4 before the captain went and soon after Davson was caught by Charlie Hill off Luke Ryan for 103.

That was the breakthrough Banbury needed. Edmund Casterton 26no kept Wycombe in contention but once James Benning 20 and Uzair Amjaid 23, the hosts could only reach 282-8 at the close.

Sabin completed an outstanding day by picking up 3-31 for the leaders.