MINSTER Lovell picked up their first ever Airey Cup triumph with a thrilling six-run victory over Shrivenham in Monday’s final at Great Horwood.

They edged home to collect their second OCA trophy of the season, and maintain their hopes of completing an unprecedented treble as they are currently top of Division 1.

Shrivenham opted to insert Minster on a damp pitch at Horwood and made quick inroads as Harry Ebsworth fell for a duck.

Wickets fell regularly as Conor Taylor and Adam Tucker bowled well for Shrivenham, and Minster at one stage were struggling at 123-6.

However, a 60-run stand between skipper Nathan Harris and Eddie Dunn got Minster back on track, and they eventually posted a competitive 204-8. Dunn top-scored with 50, while Harris hit 34, Taylor finishing with 3-46.

In reply, Shrivenham lost an early wicket as Charan Chahal fell for 17.

Will Snell and Adam Tucker then shared 87 for the second wicket and Shrivenham appeared well on track for victory.

But after Snell was out, it sparked a Minster revival.

Tucker followed soon after for an excellent 71, and he could consider himself somewhat unlucky to be given out lbw as he appeared to have edged the ball into his pads.

Jagi Chahal kept Shrivenham in the hunt with an unbeaten 42, but he lost regular partners at the other end as Minster kept chipping away.

Bryan Barrett and Jack Simpson took two wickets apiece to peg Shrivenham back, and they finished agonisingly short at 198-8.

l THE torrential rain and thunderstorms wreaked havoc on the OCA League programme as only a handful of games managed to reach a conclusion on Saturday.

In Division 1, Radley fell to a 32-run defeat at home to Charlbury.

Batting first, Charlbury posted 145-3 in a rain-reduced match of 28 overs per side.

Bimalka Liyanarachchi top-scored with 41 not out, while Jason Hornsby hit 39 not out.

In reply, Radley crawled to 119-9 as Ashley Rump took 3-11 and Jake Godfrey 3-25.

Wantage defeated hosts Chadlington by seven wickets in Division 2.

Freddie Magee top-scored with 32 in Chadlington’s 132-5 from 25 overs.

Under 14 George Chipchase then claimed 3-29 in Wantage’s reply, but they reached 134-3 as Nick Burton hit 48.

Watlington secured promotion from Division 4 after a seven-wicket win at home to Minster Lovell 2nd.

Neil Maguire’s hat-trick in figures of 4-41 was the highlight as Minster were all out for 159, and then James Howlett (68no) and Nicholas Little (45no) led Watlington to 162-3.

The target score method was used in West Ilsley’s 61-run victory at home to Swinbrook.

Wayne Lyford top-scored with 79 and Adam Barnes hit 42 in West Ilsley’s 256-6.

After a heavy downpour, Swinbrook’s target was reduced to 222, but they managed only 161-9 as John Bowness took 4-19, Tom Julian hitting 67 for the visitors.

In Division 5, Britwell Salome beat visitors Kennington by 57 runs on the target score method.

Hassan Khurshi’s brilliant 110 not out and 52 from Steve Strong helped Britwell to an imposing 247-7.

The rain cut Kennington’s overs by five and the target was set at 228.

But they were bowled out for 171 as Zaffair Hussain took 3-30 and Neil Lawrence 3-43.

Three matches survived the deluge in Division 6 and at Radley 2nd they ran out one-run victors over Kidlington 2nd.

Ashley Pike hit 38 and Rezwan Rana 30 not out in Radley’s 120-5 from 31 overs.

Awais Rana then claimed 3-13 as Kidlington were bowled out for 119.

Steventon edged out visitors Hanney by one wicket on the target score method.

Hanney posted 115-8 in 35 overs, Peter Cakebread hitting 31 and Phil Armstrong taking 3-24.

After another rain delay, Steventon’s target was set at 105 from 34 overs, and they reached 106-9 as Armstrong hit 47.

Shrivenham 2nd saw off hosts Tetsworth 2nd by 20 runs.

Scott Winskill led the way for Shrivenham with 60 in his side’s 203-8.

Tetsworth were all out for 183 in reply, Haider Zaman hitting 61, Richard Deacon taking 4-51 and Steve Bowles 3-33.

In Division 8, Dorchester 2nd were too strong for nine-man Chalgrove in a seven-wicket win.

Ian Ferris claimed 4-6 as the visitors were shot out for 90, and then Mike Ottrey hit 36 to steer Dorchester to 92-3.

Hook Norton 2nd ran out 30-run victors at Kennington 2nd in Division 9.

Andrew Thomas top-scored with 69 in Hooky’s 166-7 from 35 overs, and then the hosts were restricted to 136-6 in reply.