Cricket: Round-up

Opener Paul Hemming hit the top flight's first century with an unbeaten 105 for Shipton-under-Wychwood - but they were unable to force victory against Oxford Nondescripts in the Classic Press Cherwell League Division 1, writes Keith Campbell.

Hemming's ton, which contained only six boundaries scored over very slow outfield, was the cornerstone of Shipton's 239-3, with good support from Shaun Miller (32 no), Steve Bates (32) and Felix McDonald (30).

But Shipton were unable to prise out the Nondies' tail as the home side finished on 158-6. Andy Peebles held the innings together with an unbeaten 61, but only Craig Keen (34) was able to stay with him for any length of time as Miller (3-61) bowled well.

Challow & Childrey, last year's Division 2 champions, eased to a comfortable seven-wicket win over promoted Buckingham.

Having been inserted, Buckingham scored 200 in 48 overs, with Steve Beck making 70 and James Gear 48, while Charlie Knightley took 4-56.

Chris Warboys (64) and Julian Penney (51) then put on a stand of 125 for Challow's first wicket before Knightley weighed in with 36 to see the visitors home at 201-3 in the 43rd over. Sandford St Martin scored 218-6 against Cumnor to set up a 77-run victory.

Ollie Murrey (42), Rob Taylor (43), Ian Tew (40) and Phil Paterson (30) all batted well for Sandford as Steve Slade toiled away for 3-99.

Chas Taylor (3-12) and Steve Cox (3-24) then got among the Cumnor batsmen and, despite 33 from Malcolm Evans and 30 by Mick Gorman, the visitors slumped to 141 all out.

Rob Brooks fired an unbeaten 66 in Thame's eight-wicket win at Rover Cowley.

Earlier, Rover had mustered only 153-9, Colin Ball top-scoring with 40.

Banbury Twenty rattled up 250-7 against Leighton Buzzard with good knocks by Richard Hawkins (54), David Burbage (71), Steve Partington (34) and Mike Wedderburn (40 no).

Spinner Lee Selfe returned figures of 5-101 from 19 overs.

Buzzard were never in the hunt in reply as they replied with 167-6, Selfe and Tim O'Leary each scoring 51 and Matt Mardle making 33. Chalgrove, last year's Division 3 champions, made a disastrous start in Division 2 as they were shot out for 54 by Bourton Vale to go reeling to a 95-run defeat.

With wickets crashing around him, Derek Thomas was left unbeaten on 30, Neil Langenhoven (5-32) and Pierre Fourie (3-20) doing the damage after Bourton had made 149.

Bicester & North Oxford 2nd survived a scare against Oxford Downs, slumping at one stage to 23-4.

But a fine 71 from Chris Clements, ably assisted by Gary Sansome's 30, took them to the relative comfort of 128-9, despite Martin Lee's seamers providing him with figures of 6-62.

Downs also found runs hard to come by, and with Andrew Wingfield Digby taking 4-40 from 17 overs, they were hanging on at 107-8 at the close.

Great and Little Tew rattled up 231-9 against Banbury 2nd with Steve Clayton (92), Dave Powells (45) and Kevin Taylor (45) leading the way as Brian Jeffries took 3-45. Banbury replied with 135-4 for an equal share of the points, with Martin Thomas batting through the innings for 66 not out.

A similar situation arose at Kingston Bagpuize where the home side struggled to 172-5 in reply to Dinton's 239-4.

Dinton opener Andy Parker made a superb 101 and was well supported by Greg Ames (39) and skipper Darren Risden (33).

Dinton then reduced Bagpuize to 73-5, Pete Ludlow taking 3-43, but Dave Pearce (52 no) and Barry Collis (43 no) came to the rescue.

Kimble off-spinner Salim Fazal took 7-33 to set up a two-wicket win over new boys Bletchley 2nd, who were bowled out for 129. Andy Russel's workmanlike 34 saw the visitors home at 130-8.

Jason Constable blasted six sixes in a quickfire 73 to get Division 3A newcomers Kidlington off to a winning start with a three-wicket win over Witney Mills.

Constable's knock saw Kidlington. Mills posted 200-5, with Mark Cannons making 63 and Pete Claridge 42.

Horspath were denied by Abingdon Vale's last pair, who held out at 137-9 in reply to the visitors 147-7.

Graham Plested (56) had held the Horspath innings together as Robin Newman took 3-52.

Then, Dave Heritage (3-28) and Dennis Messenger (3-53) restricted Vale - despite knocks of 33 from David Wilding and 32 by David Wadsworth.

John Brannan took 5-11 to set Wallingford on the way to an eight-wicket win over Oxford Nondescripts 2nd, who were bowled out for 94. Rover Cowley 2nd proved no match for Moreton-in-Marsh, crashing to a 103-run defeat. James Whiteley took 4-39 for Rover as Moreton made 176-6.

Cumnor 2nd's 112 all out never looked enough to bother a keen Swindon GWR side, who coasted to a nine-wicket win.

John Brannan took 5-11 to set Wallingford on the way to an eight-wicket win over Oxford Nondescripts 2nd, who were bowled out for 94.

New boys Didcot made a winning bow in Division 3B with a four-wicket victory over Wend- over, who struggled to 149-8 with Peter Gregory making 37 as Graham McPherson took 3-25.

Ross Morgan (53) and Julian Hitchman (34) led Didcot to 150-6.

Cropredy were upset by Dinton 2nd, who made 156, with Terry Kelloway (37) and Kevin Jackson (30) the top scorers.

Cropredy were then dismissed for 122 by Geoff Lambert (6-48) and James Ainley (4-18).

Henley 2nd beat Bletch- ingdon by three wickets with an over to spare.

Bletchingdon made 156-7 with Tom Bagent taking 3-32. Johnny Hancock hit 43 in Henley's 158-7, despite John Brown taking 4-55.

Morris Motors coasted to a nine-wicket win over Stanton St John Willows, who were shot out for 64 with Rachid taking 4-18.

Aftab scored 47 not out in Motors' reply of 66-1.

Brackley were also thrashed by nine wickets, by Aston Rowant whose 44-1 required just eight overs after the visitors had been dismissed for just 43, Wesley Morrick taking 5-24. Kevin Crawford took 5-51 to set Tiddington on the way in Division 3C to a four-wicket win over Bledlow on their return to the local scene.

Crawford's haul helped reduce Bledlow to 141 all out, Clive White making 63, before Tiddington clinched victory at 143-6.

Oxford 2nd suffered the agony of a one-run defeat against newcomers Wolverton Town 2nd, who mustered 132-9 as Paul Hebbett took 3-22.

Oxford were in deep trouble at 84-7, but Hebbett and Jamie Summers took the score to 131-9 before Summers was bowled.

Aston Rowant 2nd were foiled by Long Marston's last pair, who were hanging on at 120-9 as Bill Thompson took 5-66. Earlier, Rowant made 153-5 with Nigel Joiner scoring 47 and Neil Lambourne 51.

Stokenchurch just failed to hold out at Bledlow Ridge, being dismissed for 160 in reply to the home side's 209-3 dec scored off 45 overs.

Robin Bacon (65 no) and Dan Pigott (83 no) put on an unbroken 152 for the fourth wicket for Ridge

Aylesbury restricted Princes Risborough to 89-8 to set up a seven-wicket win.