MP Sports Cherwell League

Division 1

CARL Thompson bagged a hat-trick to rip the heart out of Buckingham Town’s middle order and set Cumnor on the way to their first win of the season.

After losing the toss, Cumnor made a steady start before skipper Sam Jones (71) and Jamie Douglas stepped on the gas to take them to 262-5. Town were to rue conceding 64 runs from the final five overs.

Buckingham got off to a flier and stayed in contention thanks to James Tomlinson (52) and Ben Stafford (51).

But Thompson’s inspired spell put the home side in command and the visitors eventually succumbed off the last ball of the final over for 225.

Cumnor 25pts, Buckingham Town 7

Graham Newhook took 7-58 but still finished on the losing side as Oxford Downs crushed last year’s runners-up Shipton-under-Wychwood and so stretched their lead at the top of the table.

Downs, the only team with an unblemished record in the division, chose to bat first and made good progress through Justin Cantrill (93) and Darryl Woods (88) in their total of 232.

Shipton were never in contention after tea, as Amin Rafiq (4-45) and Will Watts (3-19) combined to dismiss them for 153.

Oxford Downs 25, Shipton 7

Edmund Gross and Harry Chetwood both hit 103 – the latter undefeated – as Great & Little Tew made batting look easy at home to strugglers Bourton Vale.

Ashley Hubbert chipped in with 38 as Tew amassed 296-4, a total that Vale never looked like threatening.

Ryan Hill (35) and Greg Shepherd (33) put up some resistance, but Bourton were all out for 160.

Great & Little Tew 25, Bourton Vale 4

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts are up to second after captain Mark Strong took 5-18 to help dismiss Bletchley Town for 135.

Matt Shepherd’s 38 was the only contribution of note for the home side, who were powerless to prevent Nondies cruising to 136-3.

Jordan Gillies hit 52 and Timothy Rattigan was unbeaten on the same score when the winning runs were scored.

Nondies 25, Bletchley Town 5

Mark Murfett (4-35) and Jack Stimpson (3-17) joined forces to bowl out Leighton Buzzard Town and so clinch a 17-run win for Oxford 2nd.

A good team effort had seen Oxford compile a competitive 177-9 from their 53 overs.

Town went for their shots in reply, an approach that paid off for Phillip Whatmore (38) and Dan Scott (34). But wickets kept falling and skipper Antony Francis was stranded on 48 not out when his side were all out.

Leighton Buzzard Tn 7, Oxford 2nd 25