MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE

Division 1

NEW leaders Shipton-under-Wychwood now seem strong favourites to win league after beating in-form Great & Little Tew by five wickets.

Tew had won six of their previous nine games, including a four-wicket home win over Shipton on June 18.

In a rain-affected match on Saturday, Tew could manage only 154 as seamer Graham Newhook took 4-25 and spiner Shaun Miller 3-44 to seize control of the contest.

Ashley Hubbert’s 40 was the only highlight for Tew, who could not contain Simon Hole (54) or Andy Hemming (54no) as the hosts eased to 158-5.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 25pts, Great & Little Tew 7

Oxford 2nd’s relegation light worsened when they slumped to a shock 114-run defeat at previously winless Bourton Vale.

The home side piled on 255 after being asked to bat, Nick Anderson leading the way with 64.

John Allcock (4-49) and Brad Sutherland (3-96) were the pick of the visitors’ attack.

But Ben Hughes then bowled even better for Vale, taking 5-31 as Oxford tumbled to 141 all out.

Despite the win, Bourton will definitely finish bottom of the table.

Bourton Vale 25, Oxford 2nd 7

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts beat Leighton Buzzard Town by six runs in a tense finish.

Nondies struggled to 153 all out after electing to bat, as spinners Tom Light (5-74) and Lee Selfe (5-32) got on top and stayed there.

Light then hit 48 – easily the highest individual score of the match – but Nondies’ spin twins Mark Strong (4-64) and Sanjay Vinjimoor (4-25) also exploited helpful conditions to reduce Town to 147 all out.

Ox & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 25, Leighton Buzzard Town 7

Bletchley Town boosted their survival hopes with an impressive 54-run victory over local rivals Buckingham Town.

Graham Simpson hit a determined 43 and James Clark a run-a-ball 37 as Bletchley posted 189-8 after choosing to bat first.

Buckingham’s Andrew Fletcher was last out for 84, but only one more Town batsman made it to double figures as James Sprittles claimed 6-47 in Town’s 135 all out.

Bletchley Town 25, Buckingham Town 5