MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE

Division 1

Oxford Downs stretched their lead at the top of the table to 25 points by demolishing their nearest challengers on Saturday.

Put in to bat, Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts were restricted to 190-6, with only veteran Ian Mead (32) getting going before Aussie James Green (72no) injected some late impetus.

Downs found batting rather easier, with Justin Cantrell (92) and Wes Bartlett (52) steering the runaway leaders to 191-3 and a seven-wicket win

Oxford Downs 25pts, Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 6

Simon Hole’s impressive 106 not out, the highest individual score in the top flight so far this season, helped Shipton-under-Wychwood climb back up to third by beating Buckingham Town by seven wickets.

Only Steve Brunning (33) and Matthew Thatcher (32) hung around for long for Town, who struggled against Ryan Newhook (3-57) before closing on 190-8.

Shipton lost three early wickets before Hole and Graham Newhook (39no) came together to secure victory in the 44th over.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 25, Buckingham Town 6

Great & Little Tew chose to bat, but then promptly crashed to 120 all out at Bletchley Town, who had previously lost all of their matches, Saxon Wright (3-28), Mark Roberts (3-33) and James Sprittles (3-39) shared the spoils, while Matt Taylor (38) and Edmund Gross (30) were the only batsmen to prosper.

Town made hard work of the run chase until Sprittles (58no) and James Clark (35no) settled the home side’s nerves and took them to 124-4.

Bletchley Tn 25, Great & Little Tew 5

Miles Hammond claimed figures of 5-31 from 12 overs as Cumnor thrashed Oxford 2nd by seven wickets to climb into the top half.

Only Peter Fuller’s patient 43 from 72 balls added a modicum of respectability to Oxford's total of 131 all out.

Adam Cook then creamed 54 from 66 balls while John Williams, scoring exclusively on the leg side, hit 33 from 38 deliveries in Cumnor’s 135-3 off 31.1 overs.

Oxford 2nd 5, Cumnor 25

Basement boys Bourton Vale slumped to another defeat, this time by 60 runs at home to Leighton Buzzard Town.

Vale’s decision to field first looked foolish when Town racked up 245-5 before declaring at the end of the 50th over. Jack Kempster (77no) and Phil Whatmore (54) scored the bulk of the runs.

Ben Hughes hit 76 and Henry Keeling 54 to give Vale a glimmer of hope, but Dan Scott (3-31) and Kempster (3-34) helped bowl them out for 185.

Bourton Vale 5, L Buzzard Town 25