OXFORD Downs took over at the top of the Cherwell League Division 2 table, but made hard work of seeing off struggling Oxford 2nd by four wickets.

The visitors opted to bat first and were tumbled out in the 34th over for just 105 as Harry Sutton took 6-43 and Johnny Law 4-59.

Downs were thankful to a classy 52 from James Ellwood as they reached 107-6.

Sandford St Martin moved up to third after beating visitors Cropredy by five wickets.

Saim Hussain (60) and Russell Beckett (58) shone for Cropredy, but they were all out for 178 as Tom Goffe claimed 5-16.

In reply, Sandford reached the target with more than six overs to spare as Henry Portman hit 75 and Mark Robey 47 not out.

Great & Little Tew 2nd were shocked by Wolverton Town, who moved off the bottom with a 110-run victory.

The hosts set 238-9 in their 53 overs as Atif Akhlaq top-scored with 85, while Ian Bryan claimed 4-63 for Tew. Only Josh Garrett (33) and Robbie Catling (32) really got going in Tew’s reply as they stumbled to 128 all out in the 36th over.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd had no answer to Scott Harris as they lost by four wickets to Blewbury & Wallingford in Division 3.

Harris took the first four wickets as Shipton were reduced to 45-6.

However, Anthony Prior-Wandesford (57no) and Tom Swann (51) shared 95 for the seventh wicket as they set a competitive total of 178-9 from their 53 overs, Harris finishing with figures of 6-40 from 17 overs. Blewbury managed to scramble home with one ball to spare.

A 92-run stand between John Shea (65) and Ben Denton (49no) broke the back of the run chase, but the hosts needed every ball to reach the target.

Oxford Downs 2nd dropped into the relegation zone after a crushing ten-wicket defeat at Great Brickhill 2nd.

James Wagg was the main man for the hosts, returning outstanding figures of 9-65, taking the first nine wickets, only for Lawrence Armstrong to deny his teammate the opportunity of taking all ten.

The hosts raced past Downs’ total of 149-9, Patrick Sreenivasaprasad hitting a spectacular 114 not out off just 69 balls.

Witney Mills inflicted a first-ever Cherwell League defeat on Westbury in Division 4, cruising to a 140-run victory.

Mills racked up 254-9 in their 53 overs as Adam Mayho hit 92 and Malcolm Evans 58, Charlie Harper taking 6-74 for Westbury.

For once, Westbury’s formidable batting order failed, in the face of an excellent spell from Ben Madden, who took 6-49 to send the visitors tumbling to 114 all out in the 29th over.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 4th lost by five wickets to Abingdon Vale 4th in Division 9 South.

Graham Nelson hit 69 for Shipton in their 160 all out, George Owen taking 4-25.Paul Rallings (77) and Hanif Rahim (32) then led Vale home at 162-5.