MATCH OF THE DAY

THE Division 4 title race will almost certainly go down to the final weekend of the season after second-placed Great & Little Tew 2nd thrashed leaders Didcot.

The South Oxon side would have been crowned champions if they had won, but were on the end of a 116-run defeat.

Tew have the easier run-in, but Didcot will win the race if they win one more match and collect at least four points from the other.

Didcot’s decision to field first on Saturday backfired when the visitors racked up 238-8. Rob Garrett contributed 56 and Neil Megson struck some fearsome blows in his 61.

David Slade continued his fine season by taking 5-70, the fourth time he has taken five wickets in an innings this summer.

A flurry of wickets after tea soon ended the match as a contest, when Didcot collapsed to 67-7 in the 22nd over. Michael Darby (3-54) did much of the damage, before Sam Haselgrove entered the attack to take 3-11 and finish off the hosts for 122.

Only Matt Jones (34) resisted for long.

Whichever team becomes champions, they will meet again in Division 3 next year, when both will playing at that level for the first time.

Didcot 4pts, Great & Little Tew 2nd 25

Remaining fixtures
Saturday: Buckingham T 2nd v Didcot, Great & Little Tew 2nd v Stokenchurch
Sept 7: Didcot v Witney Mills, Wallingford v Great & Little Tew 2nd