DIVISION 1

OXFORD Downs registered the highest top flight score of the season – but continue to have worries about relegation.

They hammered 290-8 against Leighton Buzzard Town but couldn’t force the win that would make them safe.

Wes Bartlett hit 90 and Frankie Crouch contributed 63, while Tom Light (7-87) produced the best figures by a Town bowler this summer.

The visitors had a real go after tea, with Chris Thompson and Phil Whatmore adding 72 apiece, but Lester Smart took 3-70 and Leighton finished on 272-6.

Downs are now nine without a win and face champions Horspath in their final match this week.

Oxford Downs 15pts, Leighton Buzzard Town 10

Twyford were bottom two weeks ago - now they are fourth and five points from safety.

By contrast, Buckingham Town were second at the end of July, but are eighth and six points the only relegation zone.

On Saturday, Twyford made 201-9 through Ben Elkington (44) and Rory Lyon (30), while Simon Myatt took 4-43.

Myatt then top-scored with 48 and Ben Laycock made 40, but Lyon (3-39) and Bilal Afzal (3-55) helped bowl out Town for 157.

Twyford 25, Buckingham Town 5

Banbury 2nd’s 13th draw of the summer will probably be enough to keep them in Division 1 for another year.

They dominated their latest stalemate, which extended their league record for drawn matches in one season, against Horspath.

They amassed 265-6 before declaring after 52 overs, with Lloyd Sabin (73), Nathan Hawkes (68) and Andrew Sabin (43) all scoring freely.

Adam Krol took 4-63 for the visitors, who could only manage 187-7 in reply. Jack Biggs hit 35, while Ashley Blanchard bagged 3-26.

Banbury 2nd 18, Horspath 2nd 5

Oxford 2nd’s Aussie left-arm seamer Adam Price picked up 5-72, but could not stop bottom club Great Brickhill reaching 223-9, thanks in part to Garth Davson (48) and Doug Aris (37).

George Humphries then took 4-36 to give Brickhill hope of a win that would lift them off the foot of the table.

However, a resilient innings from Tim Sutton (74no) steered Oxford to 177-8.

Oxford 2nd 7, Great Brickhill 19

Shipton-under-Wychwood clung on to second place despite losing at nearest rivals Thame Town.

The hosts moved within one point of their rivals for the runners-up spot courtesy of some fine bowling by John Maynard (4-35), skipper Mike Higgs (3-7) and Sam Lachlan (3-48).

Their efforts saw Shipton blown away for 133, which never looked like being enough once James Neilson had hit 43 and Higgs 31, as Thame eased to 134-6 in the 29th over.

Thame Town 25, Shipton-under-Wychwood 8