HASSAM Mushtaq’s superb six-wicket haul helped Thame Town end Oxford’s perfect start in Division 2 of the Home Counties Premier League.

The league leaders fell to a 49-run defeat in a low-scoring match at Church Meadow.

Oxford looked hot favourites for victory after dismissing Thame for 119, but Mushtaq claimed 6-18 as the visitors’ five-match winning run came to an end.

Heavy rain in the week meant the match was played on an old-wicket, but the inclement weather only brought about an early lunch as play was virtually uninterrupted.

Thame struggled after electing to bat, with left-arm seamer Samad Fallah claiming 5-49 from 20 overs as wickets fell regularly.

No batsman scored more than 20 for the hosts, while only a tenth-wicket stand of 40 from Andrew Russell and Chris Jeffcock helped them into treble figures before they were all out for 119 in the 55th over.

Oxford had no answer to Mushtaq, though, with only Fergus Nutt and Owyn Tong-Jones scoring more than ten as they were skittled for 70 in the 32nd over.

Oxford Downs fell to a six-wicket defeat at Chesham.

A poor batting display saw Downs close on 150-9, Oxfordshire bowler Matt Warner taking 3-27, as rain ended their innings after 48 overs.

The weather saw Chesham’s reply reduced to 42 overs, but they reached 151-4 in the 34th over.

Wes Morrick’s six-wicket haul proved in vain as Aston Rowant slipped to the bottom of the Division 1 table when falling to a 30-run defeat at Finchampstead.

Chasing 172, the visitors were dismissed for 142 in the 36th over despite a half-century from opener James Coles (75).

Earlier, Morrick had finished with figures of 6-63 and Coles claimed 3-49 as Finchampstead were all out in 56.2 overs, Dan Lincoln top-scoring with 60.

Having slipped to 43-3, Rowant, whose reply was reduced to 51 overs, recovered well thanks to a fourth-wicket stand of 71 between Coles and James Fitzjohn (30).

But they lost their last six wickets for nine runs as they fell short.

Spinners Tom Cosford and Lloyd Belcher took four wickets apiece, but were unable to save Horspath from a 46-run defeat at home to High Wycombe.

Cosford picked up 4-78 from 22 overs of off-spin, while Belcher’s left-arm spin brought him 4-92 off 26 overs as the visitors posted 196 all out after being put in on a damp pitch.

Opener Eliot Callis made 47, before skipper Dan Marles top-scored with a patient 51 off 126 balls, which included four boundaries and a six, while the last six wickets fell for just nine runs.

With their reply reduced to 53 overs by a heavy shower early in the innings, Horspath were never in the hunt, collapsing to 58-6.

Mark Skelton (34no) led a rearguard action before they were bowled out for 150 with Conner Haddow (4-43) and Tom Hampton (3-17) starring.

Banbury’s match at home to Datchet ended in a draw due to heavy rain.

Weather cut short the visitors’ innings, with the Berkshire club on 151-7 after 62 overs.

Joe Thomas (3-28) and Ollie Wright (3-36) claimed three wickets apiece for Banbury.

The home side’s reply only lasted eight overs, though, with heavy rain forcing the players off at 24-1.