WESTBURY returned to winning ways and in doing so closed the gap on Division 3 leaders Wolverton to six points with a three-wicket victory at Oxford Downs 2nd.
Downs were bowled out for 190, with Nick Rivett scoring 52 and Graeme Coates 46.
Graham Judd claimed 5-34 and Richard Tredwell 3-45 for Westbury, who reached 192-7 with seven overs to spare to wrap up victory.
Rivett completed a fine all-round show with 3-31.
- Oxford Downs 2nd 11pts, Westbury 25
Dave Clark’s unbeaten century proved key as Horley edged to a thrilling six-run victory at Bicester & North Oxford.
Horley opted to bat first and proceeded to 241-8 in their 50 overs.
Clark struck a brilliant 104 not out, with Dan Savin taking 4-57 for the home side.
Young Savin then shone with the bat, top-scoring with 90, but Bicester were bowled out for 235 with three balls remaining in an exciting finish.
- Bicester & North Oxford 13pts, Horley 25
After picking up their first win last week, East Oxford failed to capitalise as they lost their bottom-of-the-table clash at Great Brickhill 2nd by four wickets.
Hamid Miah claimed 3-35 to help dismiss East Oxford in the 31st over for 133.
Siphe Mzayidume then took 3-36 for East Oxford, but Brickhill reached 134-6 to pick up their first win and send East Oxford back to the foot of the table.
- Great Brickhill 2nd 25pts, East Oxford 8
Banbury 3rd shocked hosts Cublington with a crushing seven-wicket win.
Chasing Cublington’s 201 all out, Banbury reached 202-3 with six overs to spare to seal an excellent victory.
- Cublington 7pts, Banbury 3rd 25
SAM Haselgrove had the perfect day for Witney Mills as he virtually single-handedly led his side to a 52-run victory at home to Brackley in Division 4.
Witney Mills were struggling at 72-5, but an unbroken club record sixth-wicket stand of 174 between Haselgrove and captain Mike Dove saw them to 246-5, Haselgrove’s 117 not out containing 12 fours and six sixes.
The youngster then took 4-76 and Steve Kelly 3-28 as Brackley fell to 194 all out.
- Witney Mills 25pts, Brackley 6
Leaders Minster Lovell marched on with a seven-wicket victory at home to Tiddington 2nd.
Inserting their visitors Leigh Smith took 3-34 and Jack Simpson 3-45 to dismiss them for 165, Matt Maule top-scoring with 50.
In reply, Minster eased to 166-3 in the 36th over as Simpson hit 54 not out and skipper Harry Ebsworth 49.
- Minster Lovell 25pts, Tiddington 2nd 6
Stokenchurch also maintained their unbeaten record as they brushed aside visitors Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd by six wickets.
Josh Triggs took 6-66 as Shipton were shot out in the 34th over for only 111.
Ashley Hunt hit 44 not out to steer Stokenchurch to 113-4.
- Stokenchurch 25pts, Shipton 2nd 5
Thame Town 2nd were too strong for basement boys Dinton 2nd, running out 103-run winners.
George Patey (44), Harry Thomas (41) and Richard Carr (40no) led Thame to 220-8 in their 53 overs, before Dinton were shot out for 117.
- Thame Tn 2nd 25pts, Dinton 2nd 4
Horspath 3rd lost by seven wickets to hosts Bletchley Town.
Ricardo Brown took 5-27 to dismiss Horspath for 138.
Arshad Mahmood then hit 72 not out as Bletchley eased home at 139-3 in the 31st over.
- Bletchley Tn 25pts, Horspath 3rd 5
ABINGDON Vale 2nd saw off visitors Cropredy 2nd by four wickets to keep up the pressure at the top of Division 5.
Paul Butcher took 5-19 and nephew Matt Butcher 4-61 as Cropredy were bowled out for 100 in the 40th over at Hales Meadow.
Chris Butcher – Paul’s brother – then scored 37 and Terry Groome 31 to steer Vale home at 101-6.
- Abingdon 2nd 25pts, Cropredy 2nd 7
Cumnor remain top following a seven-wicket win over Long Marston 2nd.
George Bacon took 5-38 and Robert Shrimpton 4-47 as Marston were all out for 217.
Cumnor then eased to 221-3 for maximum points.
- Long Marston 2nd 7, Cumnor 2nd 25
Kingston Bagpuize had to settle for a draw at home to Kimble – but all results were possible going into the final over.
Kendal Robertson (71) and Marco Cecchini (62) helped Kingston set 248-5.
Kimble’s Ewan Crawley hit 107 in their reply, while Jack Foster added 74.
But they finished just eight runs short of victory, closing their innings on 241-6.
- K Bagpuize 14pts, Kimble 10
Shaun Burningham hit 61 not out as Didcot 2nd beat Oxford 3rd by eight wickets.
Kane Durrant took 4-21 as Oxford were dismissed for 124, only No 9 Ozair Malik (54no) getting going.
Burningham then starred as Didcot eased home, with Oxford docked five points for failing to provide an umpire.
- Oxford 3rd -2, Didcot 2nd 2
Centuries from Gareth Benger (106) and James Raine (102) were in vain as Leighton Buzzard Town 2nd drew with hosts Bledlow Ridge.
Buzzard amassed a huge 308-3 declared in 50 overs, and Bledlow made no attempt at chasing the mammoth total, crawling to 133-9 in 50 overs.
- Bledlow Ridge 3pts, L Buzzard 2nd 20
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