BANBURY 2nd saw off Cherwell League Division 1 leaders Dinton 2nd by four wickets to close the gap at the top to three points.

Hosts Dinton opted to bat first, but were bowled out in 47 overs for 195, despite 64 from Ryan Chapman and 41 from Mark Ludlow. Steve Hart took 3-26 for the visitors.

Banbury lost their openers cheaply, but 58 from youngster George Tait and 47 from Mark Pallett got them on track.

They eased home with five overs to spare at 196-6, Richard Simpson finishing 32 not out.

  • l Dinton 10pts, Banbury 2nd 25

Oxford Downs were too strong for Horspath 2nd, winning by five wickets with more than 12 overs to spare.

Horspath’s decision to bat first appeared a good one as Kit Cutter (62) and Dom O’Connor (20) put on 73 for the first wicket.

But when they fell to Amin Rafiq and Will Watts respectively, Downs began to turn the screw.

Spinners Rafiq (2-26) and Wasim Mehmood (3-39) applied the brakes to the Horspath innings as they crawled to 178 all out in 47.5 overs.

The total never looked like being enough as Downs eased home at 179-5, Frankie Crouch top-scoring with 56 and George Sandbach hitting 51.

  • l Ox Downs 25pts, Horspath 2nd 8

Abingdon Vale moved fifth, seeing off visitors Cumnor by 34 runs.

Vale were dismissed for 193 as Max Mannering (3-18) and Alex Davies (3-35) shone.

But the total proved adequate as Cumnor succumbed to Vale skipper Jonathan Jenkinson (5-36) and were bowled out for 159 with two overs remaining.

  • Abingdon Vale 25pts, Cumnor 12

Aston Rowant 2nd crushed visitors Twyford by 122 runs.

Chris Eaton hit 75 and Wes Morrick 44 in Rowant’s 213-9.

Morrick (4-32) and Dominic Whatman (3-15) then ran through the Twyford card as they were tumbled out for 91 in the 29th over.

  • Aston Rowant 2nd 25pts, Twyford 9

Tiddington fell to a 45-run defeat at Long Marston.

Phillip Webb (73no) and Jeremy Smith (64) helped the hosts to 250-6 in their 50 overs.

Nick Pykett’s excellent 69 was the highlight of Tiddington’s reply, but they fell for 205, with Alastair Bee taking 4-40 and Sam Bastin 3-39.

  • Long Marston 25pts, Tiddington 10 C
  • CHALLOW & Childrey shocked high-flying visitors Buckingham Town 2nd with a four-wicket victory in a low-scoring Diviison 2 clash.

Buckingham’s decision to bat first backfired badly as they were shot out for 85 in 35.3 overs, Joe Harris taking 3-11 and Ollie Dimbylow returning 3-18.

But Challow didn’t have it all their own way, losing six wickets en route to the meagre victory target, Ryan Gordon’s 32 proving crucial.

  • Challow & Childrey 25pts, Buckingham Tn 2nd 6

Didcot ended the unbeaten record of leaders Bledlow Village with a 69-run victory.

Elliot Mathews struck 85 and Connor Morrison 60 as Didcot racked up 266-9 in their 50 overs, Waseem Khan taking 3-47 for the home side.

Richard Cook then claimed 3-36 for Didcot as Bledlow were all out for 197, Adam Mould top-scoring with 54.

  • l Bledlow Village 13pts, Didcot 25

Chris Thompson hit 92 and Steve Dobson 66 to help Sandford St Martin to a crushing 118-run win at Oxford 2nd.

Sandford rattled up 285-8 in their 50 overs, Mark Robey chipping in with 35.

Oxford were never in the hunt as they were bowled out for 167, Simon Smith taking 4-31 and Tom Rothwell 3-40.

  • Oxford 2nd 11pts, Sandford 25 Great & Little Tew 2nd

defeated struggling hosts Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts by four wickets to leave Nondies bottom of the table.

Liam Manley (3-10) was the pick of the Tew attack as Nondies were bowled out for 108 in 35.5 overs.

Tew lost regular wickets in their reply, but reached 111-6 to wrap up victory.

  •  Ox & Bletchingdon Nondies 7pts, Great & Little Tew 2nd 25

Cropredy fell to a five-wicket defeat against visitors Leighton Buzzard Town.

Lee Selfe (3-25) and Jack Kempster (3-29) shone as Buzzard dismissed their hosts for just 125.

And Kempster completed a fine display with 59 not out to lead Buzzard to 128-5.

  • Cropredy 6pts, Leighton Buzzard Tn 25