Abindon Vale did nothing to dent Cumnor’s status as favourites to win Cherwell League Division 2 with a decisive home defeat on Saturday.

Cumnor’s 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 key player 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 off White.

Abingdon Vale 6pts, Cumnor 25

Challow & Childrey en-dured a disastrous trip to Bledlow Village, crashing to a 73-run defeat .ckham (4-33) and Aussie Luke Stutter (4-74) looked like giving Challow a chance as Bledlow reached 201-9 from their 53 overs.

But the visiting batsmen had no answer to Mark King (4-23) and were rolled over for 128, with Pat Bryan’s 37 only delaying the inevitable.

Bledlow Village 25, Challow & Childrey 5

Warren Ainsworth produced a devastating spell of 7-43 to set up Wallingford’s tense three-wicket victory at home to winless Stoken-church in Division 3.

Ainsworth helped dismiss Stokenchurch for 135, but only Mark Carey (46) and Lee Ainsworth (35) got going as Wallingford reached 137-7.

Wallingford 25pts, Stokenchurch 9

Didcot maintained their winning start by thrashing Kingston Bagpuize to go clear at the top.

Ian Demain (83), Matt Jones (39) and Connor Morrison (38) were on form in their 226-5.

Jones and Jordan Morrison then both took 3-22 as Bagpuize were all out for 111, with Martin Shepherd (38) and Marco Cecchini (31) top-scoring.

Kingston Bagpuize 3, Didcot 25

Abingdon Vale 2nd suffered a one-sided eight wicket defeat away to Cumnor 2nd in Division 5.

The visitors were all out for just 126 against Gus Shrim-pton (3-29), Mark Edwards (33) the top-scorer.

Graham Flower was dropped on two, and had other close calls, but he took full advantage to lead his side home with an unbeaten 63.

Cumnor 2nd 25, Abingdon V 2nd 3

Lee Morgan took 6-32 to reduce Challow & Childrey 2nd to 105 all out from 47.3 overs in their home match with Great Brickhill 2nd.

He was supported by George Morris (3-33), before Brickhill reached 106-5 in the 26th over.

Challow & Childrey 2nd 6, Great Brickhill 2nd 25

Prasad Kankadandi hit a superb 104 as Didcot 3rd triumphed by three wickets at home to Oxford & Bletch-ingdon Nondescripts 3rd in Division 8.

Jon Ingram’s unbeaten 78 led Nondies to 198, but it was not enough as Didcot edged home with Kankadandi to the fore.

Didcot 3rd 25, Ox & Bletch Nondies 3rd 11

Joe Braham returned excellent figures of 6-13 from seven overs in Challow & Childrey 3rd’s 92-run win over visiting Long Marston 3rd in Division 10.

Roger Podbery’s 71 not out helped Challow set a target of 144-3.

Braham made sure of victory, helping to dismiss Marston for just 52.

Challow & Childrey 3rd 25, Long Marston 3rd 1