DIVISION 1

LLOYD Sabin is hoping his first half-century of the season is just the start of a purple patch with the bat.

The Banbury skipper led from the front with an unbeaten 74 in last week’s eight-wicket victory over Slough in Division 1.

Opener Sabin averaged just 9.3 in the opening six Home Counties Premier League games, but his fine knock provided a welcome boost.

And the captain is hoping to kick on at home to Finchampstead tomorrow.

“It was about time (I scored some runs),” said Sabin.

“I’ve had a slow season so far, but it was good to finally get some on the board.

“I still need to get better and hopefully I will get some more this Saturday.”

Banbury make one change with Dave Whiteley replacing the unavailable Ed Phillips.

Sabin added: “It was a good win last week and hopefully we can build on it.”

Aston Rowant will be looking to arrest a

three-match winless run when they take on High Wycombe at home.

Josh Smith’s side find themselves bottom of the table and face a tough test against their third-placed visitors.

Bowler Dom Whatman, who is replaced in the side by George Reid, is calling on Rowant to produce the goods.

“It obviously doesn’t get any easier tomorrow with High Wycombe coming to town,” he said.

“We’re just scrapping now.

“The guys have got to start putting their hands up, putting scores on the board and taking big wickets.”

Horspath are once more forced into changes as they prepare to travel to leaders Henley.

With Will Robertson away with Jersey and Milly Faruq and Tom Cosford both unavailable, skipper Will Eason has to shuffle the pack again from the side which lost by two wickets at Datchet.

Mark Skelton and Tom Coleman return, while second team captain Dom O’Connor steps up.

While Eason is happy with the strength of the players he is able to call upon, he would like more consistency.

“We’ve had to make changes every week so far,” said the skipper.

“But the fact we’ve been in every game this season shows the depth we’ve got.

“On the flip side, it’s frustrating, because we can’t get a settled side.”

TOMORROW’S LINE-UPS

Banbury (v Finchampstead, home): Sabin, White, Clarke, Yousaf, West, Tait, Hill, Rana, Wright, Thomas, Whiteley.

A Rowant (v H Wycombe, home): Condon, Reid, Matthews, Fitzjohn, Rossouw, Smith, Watling, Bethell, Morrick, Mathews, Harris.

Horspath (v Henley, away ): R Eason, Brown, Green, Hopper, Hawtin, W Eason, Belcher, Rafiq, Skelton, Coleman, O’Connor.

DIVISION 2

JAMIE Perkin is looking forward to a reunion with his former club when leaders Oxford host Oxford Downs tomorrow.

The pacesetters showed the perfect response to their first defeat in beating Chesham by 58 runs last week.

Their 100 per cent home record is on the line when Downs, who have won four of their seven games, visit Jordan Hill.

And Oxford skipper Perkin, who spent four years with the west Oxon club between 2006-2010, is relishing the contest.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “They were my first club and it was good to see them come into the Home Counties.

“I think they will be a real threat tomorrow.

“We will have to play extremely well to come away with a positive result.”

Oxford name an unchanged side and the captain is hoping vice-skipper Harvey Eltham, who hit his first century last week, can continue his fine form, having hit 200 runs and taken 13 wickets so far in 2019.

“He’s been outstanding this year,” said Perkin.

“I was proud of him for getting his first 100.

“Hopefully he can keep that form going.”

Downs head into the match off the back of a frustrating draw against Burnham.

A middle-order collapse prevented the side from bouncing back from their defeat to Chesham.

Downs are without the unavailable Chris Sandbach, who is replaced by Ollie Dunn.

And skipper George Sandbach is expecting a tough encounter.

He said: “We think Oxford will be our toughest test this year.

“We probably batted too slowly last week and showed a bit of inexperience in regards to scoreboard activity, so that is something to learn from.

“Losing clusters of wickets again Burnham was our downfall which meant we squandered an easy win.”

Thame Town will be eyeing a third-straight victory when they host Harefield.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Oxford (v Oxford Downs, home): Tong-Jones, Eltham, Perkin, Ayub, Dickinson, Nutt, Mendis, Ramalingam, Fallah, Keat, Humphreys.

Oxford Downs (v Oxford, away): Watts,

G Sandbach, Dunn, Slatter, Rafiq, Ellwood, Costley, Maslen, Crouch, Sillars, Rivett.