Horspath’s lead is down to 14 points after they were held to a draw for the third time in four weeks, this time by improving Oxford Downs in Division 1.

Richard Beer bagged season’s best figures of 5-65 as Downs restricted the visitors to 213-8 from their 53 overs.

Half-centuries from Robbie Eason (56) and Jimmy Phillips (51) provided half the runs, while the home side’s slow over rate was to cost them two points.

Andrew Buckingham then hit a composed 60 as Downs reached 183-7, despite Lee Mason’s 3-44.

Oxford Downs 5pts, Horspath 16 Buckingham Town are closing in on the leaders after collecting their third win on the bounce – after waiting six weeks for their first.

Oxford 2nd’s bowlers had no answer to Town’s powerhouse batting line-up as the visitors hammered 286-5 declared from 50 overs, the highest total in the top flight this term.

James Gear took 5-57 as only Naeem Bardai (61) put up much resistance in Oxford’s 168 all out, who got a six-point penalty for a slow over rate, causing them to lose points.

Oxford 2nd -1, Buckingham Town 25 Graham Carr hit an outstanding 144 not out for Leighton Buzzard Town, but still ended on the losing side at Thame Town.

By coincidence, Carr’s score exactly matched Leighton’s total the week before.

But it was still not enough, as Mike Higgs (84) and Deon Laubscher (82) set up an astounding run chase, which ended on 255-8 with one over to spare.

Thame 25, Leighton Buzzard 13 Banbury 2nd’s title aspirations were dented by Great Brickhill’s final pair, who hung on for a draw.

Ed Phillips (87), Will Briggs (40), Andrew Sabin (35) and Justin Lambden (30) helped Banbury achieve their top score of the season, 247-8.

Steve Hart then produced his second six-wicket haul of the summer, but his 6-62 and Olly Murrey’s 3-41 were not enough as Brickhill made it to 174-9. Nick Cadman was 33 not out at the close as the visitors avoided defeat for the first time since May 18.

Banbury 2nd 20, Great Brickhill 6 Shipton-under-Wychwood continued their rapid rise by thrashing Twyford.

The home side’s batsmen failed yet again, as they succumbed for only 142. Jason Hunt (5-43) and Shaun Miller (3-55) shared the spoils.

The loss of three early wickets only held up Shipton briefly as Craig Wood (38no) and George Seacole (35no) saw them to 143-8 in 33.1 overs.

Twyford 5, Shipton 25 CUMNOR reach the half-way stage of the season with one hand already on the trophy.

Their latest win came at Bletchley Town – who have one foot in Division 3.

Town could manage only 125 from 49.3 overs as Max Mannering (6-46) and Adam Cook (4-34) worked their way through the card.

The visitors’ score could have been embarrassing without Matt Shepherd’s 74.

Matt Lake (52no) and Cook (40) used only 23 overs in reply, by which time Cumnor had reached 126-3.

Cumnor 25pts, Bletchley Town 4 Up next for Cumnor are closest rivals Bledlow Village, who continued their fine form with the bat by ending Tiddington’s four-match winning streak.

Tiddington posted their highest score of the summer – 246-7 – thanks to Nick Pykett (55no), Matt Maule (52) and Will Goodman (41).

Bledlow are the division’s highest scorers by far, and showed why through Adam Mould (94) and Manoj Parmar (75) as they reached 247-5 with 27 balls to spare.

Tiddington 10, Bledlow Village 25 Ryan Gordon smacked an unbeaten 115 for Challow & Childrey, but his bowlers were unable to make the most of his contribution as the game at Cropredy petered out into a draw.

Gordon was well supported by Pat Bryan, who made 63, as Challow closed on 246-2.

Joe Fox’s 53 was the only contribution of note after tea, as Cropredy made their way to 201-7.

Cropredy 4, Challow & Childrey 18 Idrees Butt bagged 6-14 for Wolverton Town and so condemn Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts to a nine-run defeat for the second week running.

Town were defending 185 all out from 34.4 overs, during which Kieran Lampard made 40 and Zak Wade 39, which Zia Hamid collected 4-63.

Bilal Ali (35) and Tim Rattigan (31) kept Nondies in it, before Butt reduced them to 176 all out.

Ox & Bletch Nondies 8, Wolverton 25 There was another tight finish at Abingdon Vale, where Aston Rowant 2nd prevailed by two wickets.

Joe Butcher (42) top-scored in Vale’s 162 all out, which featured some fine bowling by Dominic Whatman (4-42).

A seventh-wicket partnership of 103 from Whatman (56no) and Leigh Lewis (44) saved Rowant from 54-7, helping them reach 164-8 with 13 balls to spare.

Paul White’s 4-35 was in vain as Rowant made it two wins in two to climb out of the likely drop zone.

Abingdon Vale 11, A Rowant 2nd 24 Banbury 3rd won off the last ball of the final over, and dumped their vanquished opponents Bledlow Ridge to the foot of the Division 3 table in the process.

Ridge looked favourites after George Grose (73) top-scored in their 238-7. But Banbury hit back through Adnan Ahmed (74), Olly Clarke (40) and Stuart Barr (36).

Both teams were docked two points for their slow over rates.

Banbury 3rd 23pts, Bledlow Ridge 10 An unbroken third-wicket partnership between Greg Jenkins (86no) and Pip Webb (70no) was enough to take Cublington top.

Earlier, Keiron Sear took 6-58 as Dinton 2nd posted 224 all out.

Cublington 25, Dinton 2nd 7 Morning leaders Oxford Downs 2nd drop to fourth after being held to a draw at Horspath 2nd.

The hosts made 212-9 thanks to Andy Cummings (35no), Ben Henderson (35) and Graham Beer (34), as the prolific Steve Roberts (4-47) enjoyed success with the ball.

Andy Smith (40) top-scored for Downs, but they fell short on 178-9.

Horspath 2nd 19, Oxford Downs 2nd 7 Steve Moss hit 131 – the highest score in the division this summer – as Long Marston amassed 239-9.

Simon Smith (5-56) was the only Sandford St Martin bowler to exercise much control.

Jim Howe (36), Jon Best (34) and Mark Robey (32) all put up a fight, but Adam Wells took 4-65 and Moss 3-31 as the visitors were out for 187.

Sandford St Martin 7 Long Marston 25 Anthony Prior-Wandesforde took 4-36 as Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd dismissed struggling Bicester & North Oxford for 161.

Chris Panter (50no) and Russell Haynes (49) had starred in Shipton’s 225-7.

Shipton 2nd 25, Bicester & North Oxford 6 l BICESTER & North Oxford’s home defeat to Dinton 2nd on June 8 has been turned into a win after league officials discovered the visitors fielded an unregistered player.

East Oxford continued their successful start to life in the Cherwell League by dominating their Division 4 clash with Kingston Bagpuize.

After electing to bat, the league’s newcomers racked up 271-9, surpassing their previous best by six runs. Mohammed Sadiqi (96) came within one blow of becoming the club’s first centurion since it joined from the OCA.

Young Kingston seamer Matt Warner continues to impress, as he toiled away for 17 overs to finish with 6-66.

At the other end of the age spectrum, off-spinner Dick Giles enjoyed some success with his leg-side line and three-six field.

Kingston embarked on the run chase positively, sending in Jamie Cox as a pinch-hitting opener, and he hit some lusty blows in his 33 to give them hope.

But Marco Cecchini (60no) dropped anchor once a couple of batsmen were out, and Bagpuize held on for a draw with relative ease.

East Oxford drop a couple of places to fourth on the back of this result, but remain in the hunt to win promotion at the first time of asking.

East Oxford 16pts, Kingston Bagpuize 7 DAVID Slade continued his hot streak with the ball, taking 5-46 to set up an easy win for Didcot at Witney Mills.

Pete Claridge made 50 and Pierre Lefort chipped in with 34, but most Mills batsmen struggled in their 152-9.

Simon Pritchard (66) and Henry Brisland (42no) then showed the hosts how to bat as Didcot raced to 155-1 in only 28.1 overs.

Witney Mills 3pts, Didcot 25 Great & Little Tew 2nd are up to second after winning at Wallingford.

Mark Carey (51), Will Emmett (42) and Warren Ainsworth (39) helped the home side reach 195 before being bowled out.

Kevin Taylor (3-52) was the pick of the visitors’ attack.

Tew then made their way to 196-5 through Markus Jeacock (56), Michael Darby (50) and Sam Barnes (37no).

Gt & L Tew 2nd 25, Wallingford 9 Three straight wins have helped Horley climb four places in as many weeks.

Their latest success came at Chearsley, who were bowled out for 137 by Pete Papenfus (3-18) and Darren de Bruyn (3-52). Marc Hignall made 41.

Nick Tarrant (65no) took Horley to 141-1.

Chearsley 3, Horley 25 Stokenchurch avoided defeat for the first time, but were rewarded with only two points from their trip to Buckingham Town 2nd.

Steve Brunning bashed 110 not out and Andy Thatcher 83 as Town racked up 249-2 from their 53 overs.

Brijesh Valambhia then took 5-31, but Ryan Gurton (50no) saw the visitors to 138-6.

Buckingham 2nd 17, Stokenchurch 2 Richard Carr became only the tenth player in the Cherwell League’s modern history to score a double hundred, and the first Thame Town player to do so.

His 200 not out came in Thame’s 314-4 declared at Challow & Childrey 2nd in Division 5.

Ian McStay then took 6-23 as Challow fell to 114 all out to hand Town their first win.

Challow 2nd 2pts, Thame 2nd 25 Abingdon Vale 2nd lost by three wickets at Leighton Buzzard Town 2nd.

Tom Allen stroked a stylish 53 in Vale’s 158 all out, but Jason Cardy’s 4-51 was in vain as Town reached 159-7.

L Buzzard 2nd 25, Abingdon V 2nd 9 Great Brickhill 2nd stay hot on Buzzard’s heels after an eight-wicket win at home to Tiddington 2nd.

James Wagg took 7-48 for Brickhill, but John Mackie (81), Alan Maule (48) and Nathan Brooks (44) helped the visitors post 218 all out.

But the hosts made 219-2 inside 40 overs, thanks to Andrew Harwood (96no) and Andy Ward (92no).

Gt Brickhill 2nd 25 Tiddington 2nd 6 Cumnor 2nd were undone by Bradley Rose (5-48) and Sam Agace (4-42) as they were shot out for 129 at Kimble.

Dave Ackland (49) was the only batsman to get runs, but the hosts had little trouble in posting a six-wicket win.

Kimble 25, Cumnor 2nd 5 Tom Jackson took 6-28 to help dismiss Oxford 3rd for 133 at Twyford 2nd.

Earlier, Jack Stimpson picked up 5-79 in the home side’s 190 all out, of which Jason Heslington contributed 59.

Oxford 3rd 7, Twyford 2nd 25 Gary Brock returned impressive figures of 7-29 for Great & Little Tew 4th in his side’s Division 9 game at Horspath 4th.

But his efforts were only enough to help secure a draw, Tew managing 177-7 in reply to the hosts’ 232.

Ian Belcher led the way for Horspath with a fine innings of 104.

East Oxford 2nd amasssed a big total of 241 in their Division 7 clash at Great & Little Tew 3rd.

Muzammil Rehman scored 77 and Adnan Hamid 44 as Tew struggled in the field.

Despite Dave Freeman’s 34, Tew were bowled out for 161 as Zahid Ali took 5-45.

Sam Pearce hit 141 as Horley 2nd beat Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 3rd by 74 runs in a cracking Division 8 clash.

Pearce smashed 30 in one over, despite the efforts of Ian Gregory, who claimed four wickets in fours balls while returning 5-57.

Matt Hemming took 4-19 as Shipton-under-Wychwood 3rd bow-led out Thame Town 3rd for just 38.

The west Oxfordshire side wasted little time in passing their total for a ten-wicket success.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 4th ensure a 100-point weekend for the club with a comfortable six-wicket win over Bicester & North Oxford 3rd in their Division 10 game.

Simon Dickens took 5-31 as Bicester were restricted to 70-9, Shipton easily getting to 72-4.