CUMNOR confirmed their status as favourites to win Cherwell League Division 2 when they swept to an easy win at Abingdon Vale on Saturday.

Their 43-run victory was even more comfortable than the scoreline suggests, as Vale never looked like coming close to chasing the visitors’ 164 all out.

Home skipper Graham Charlesworth gave Abingdon a good start with a miserly opening spell that yielded figures of 0-7 from 13 overs, which included nine maidens.

Cumnor were 37-3 off 25 when Charlesworth took a break, but Adam Cook (40) and captain John Williams (31) added some impetus in a 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Paul White’s 5-70 brought Vale back into it, but Tom Ingram’s quickfire 28 from 21 balls ensured Cumnor had a respectable total to defend.

The hosts lost the dangerous Joffy Cummings in the fourth over, but after a brief recovery they collapsed from 30-1 to 80-8.

Henry Pickford hit 31, but Cook (3-26) was always in control with his off-spin, and Ali Morteza (3-18) claimed the final wicket, courtesy of a smart leg-side stumping by Chris Mitty when White over-balanced.

Abingdon Vale 6pts, Cumnor 25