Defending champions Shipton-under-Wychwood came safely through their potentially tricky Cricketer National Village Championship first-round encounter with a four-wicket win at home to Oxford Downs.

Phil Garner

Shipton, who enjoyed a memorable day when beating Derbyshire side Elvaston in last year's final at Lord's, restricted their Cherwell League rivals to 152-6 from their 40 overs.

Spinners Phil Garner (2-22) and Shaun Miller (2-25) held Downs in check, with only skipper Luke List (50) making much impact.

In reply, Jason Constable (43), who has done a U-turn and stayed at Shipton despite saying in January that he was rejoining Kidlington, got the holders off to a rapid start, and they eased home with four and a half overs to spare.

Paul Plumridge smashed a century and Tim Foster took a hat-trick as Cherwell League big guns Aston Rowant thrashed OCA outfit Stonesfield by 143 runs.

Plumridge (101) and Dave Ridgley (74) shared an opening stand of 155 to set Rowant on the way to 248-3.

Foster (4-14) then took centre stage as Stonesfield slumped to 105 all out.

Seamer Chris Miller returned fine figures of 5-21 to give OCA side Tetsworth a surprise 22-run victory over Cherwell outfit Chalgrove in a low-scoring encounter.

Tetsworth looked to be up against it after being bowled out for 130, but then Miller worked his magic to sent Chalgrove tumbling to 108 all out.

Opener Dave Burgess hit an unbeaten 94 as Cherwell League new boys Hanborough thrashed OCA side Freeland by 122 runs.

Burgess and Rob Lovick (51no) took last season's OCA champions to 200-5 with an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 107 off the last nine overs.

Matthew Busby (4-19) and Matthew Gorman (3-28) then sent Freeland crashing to 78 all out.

Tiddington beat Cherwell League rivals Great & Little Tew by 36 runs.

Neil Smith (51) top-scored in Tiddington's 198-9, and then Tew were restricted to 162-9, with Paul Catling batting throughout for an unbeaten 56.

Brothers Barry and Paul Cooper starred in Charlton-on-Otmoor's 133-run victory over OCA side Britwell Salome.

Opener Barry made 91 and Paul 49 to take Charlton to 230-4, before Britwell caved in to 97 all out.

Cherwell side Cropredy slipped to a 69-run defeat at home to Kidmore End, from the Thames Valley League.