CHALLOW & Childrey maintained their unbeaten start to the season to stay top of Division 2 with a comprehensive six-wicket victory against visitors Great & Little Tew on Saturday.

They chased down Tew’s 217-8 with seven overs to spare as Ryan Gordon’s men eased home.

Tew won the toss and opted to bat first, but lost Tom Young to an early run-out.

David Fanghanel-Powles and Markus Jeacock shared 55, but after the former fell for 34 – bowled by George Trewby, who finished with 3-55 – Tew lost regular wickets and struggled to stamp any authority on their innings.

Another useful partnership of 60 between Jeacock and Sam Smith (39no) took Tew from 132-5 to 192-6.

But Jeacock’s dismissal for 80, courtesy of a sharp stumping by Mark Foster off the bowling of Luke Cheshire, put paid to Tew’s hopes of posting a larger total.

Left-arm seam bowler Luke Cheshire was the pick of the Challow attack as he finished with 3-30 in ten economical overs.

Challow’s reply got off to an excellent start as Justin Penrose and John Pechey shared 94 for the first wicket.

Penrose was first to fall for 41 when he was trapped lbw by Ian Bryan, while Pechey was out soon after with the score at 103.

But this did not halt Challow’s charge as a stand of 51 between Shaun Burningham (40) and skipper Gordon (50no) kept the pressure on the visitors.

Gordon’s unbeaten half-century came from just 48 balls, containing five fours and a six.

Although Burningham’s wicket was quickly followed by Luke Jones, Challow reached 218-4 in the 42nd over to secure maximum points.