CHALLOW & Childrey were too strong for hosts Great & Little Tew 2nd as they eased to a six-wicket victory in Cherwell League Division 2.

The visitors managed to restrict Tew to below 200, and needed just 36.2 overs to knock off the target and remain only eight points off the pace in the promotion race.

After winning the toss, skipper Ryan Gordon inserted Tew and Challow got off to a perfect start as opener Tim Wyatt was bowled by Conor Jones for one.

Wyatt’s fellow opener Markus Jeacock was resolute as he hit 37, while Jack Belmont struck 54 and Ian Bryan 43 not out.

These middle order runs proved crucial as Tew recovered from a precarious 65-5, thanks largely to a 99-run stand between Belmont and Bryan for the sixth wicket.

The wickets were shared around, with Joe Harris the pick of the Challow attack as his ten economical overs went for only 17 runs.

But Tew’s total of 172-7 in their 50 overs never looked like being enough.

Although Jamie King removed Luke Jones cheaply, Challow made light work of the run chase as Gordon hit 41, Robert Jones-Walters 33 and Justin Penrose 26 not out.

l Great & Little Tew 2nd 7pts, Challow & Childrey 25

ROB Keat celebrated his Oxfordshire call-up with a brilliant six-wicket haul to help Didcot to a crushing 105-run victory at home to Sandford St Martin.

Keat became the first Didcot player to be selected by his county, reward for his fine start to the season.

He took his place in Oxon’s line-up for their Unicorns Counties Championship Western Division match at Shropshire which started on Sunday.

But 24 hours earlier once again displayed his fine form with 6-42 as Sandford were skittled out for just 69.

Adam Webb chipped in with 4-22.

This was in response to Didcot’s total of 174 all out as Simon Smith claimed 4-21 and Tom Goffe 3-31.

l Didcot 25pts,

Sandford St Martin 10

Basement boys Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts crashed to another loss – an eight-wicket defeat at Buckingham Town.

James Gear took 5-8 as Nondies were shot out for 100 in 41 overs.

Buckingham wasted little time racing to 104-2 in the 17th over, Anthony Romaine making 42 and Steve Beck 38 not out.

l Buckingham Tn 25pts,

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 3

Abdullah Sadiqi was the star of the show for Oxford 2nd as they ran out four-wicket winners at Leighton Buzzard Town.

Sadiqi took 3-38 in the home side’s 235-8.

He then struck an excellent 55, with Matthew Reilly hitting 59, to steer Oxford to 236-6 in the 48th over to secure victory.

l Leighton Buzzard 11pts,

Oxford 2nd 25

Early-season pacesetters Cropredy are having a torrid time of it and crashed to their fifth successive defeat at home to Bledlow Village, who went top.

Matt Pearce took 6-20 to rip through Cropredy for 126, before Will Woodward top-scored with 63 to steer Bledlow to 127-3 in 26.2 overs.

l Cropredy 4pts,

Bledlow Village 25