Abingdon Vale secured their fourth win in five to move with four points of the summit in Cherwell League Division 2.

Their impressive 120-run victory over morning leaders Tiddington featured a fine all-round performance from Ed Tilley, who steered Vale to a match-winning total before taking three late wickets when the visitors hinted at an unlikely escape.

Having won the toss, Tiddington set themselves a target of dismissing Vale for less than 140 on a track that had yielded first innings scores of 138, 77, 99 and 108 this term.

But the hosts made a decent start through their classy young opener Will Barker, and although Matt Maule bowled well for his five wickets, Tilley was able to marshal the tail from 109-5 to 223 all out.

Tiddington’s young side made the worst possible start, collapsing to 33-7 as Mike Cook mixed with accuracy and hostility.

A 65-run partnership between Peter King and Matt Maule frustrated Abingdon – who have never played in the top flight – but Tilley then had King caught behind before collecting the final two wickets.

* Abingdon Vale 25pts, Tiddington 6.

Banbury 2nd conceded 40 extras on their way to a four-wicket defeat at Great Brickhill, who climbed to the top of the table as a result.

Steve Beck (54), Edward Phillips (41) and Nathaniel Gregory (41no) batted well for Banbury, who posted 175-5.

Graham Carter then hit 90 as Brickhill reached 176-6.

* Banbury 2nd 9pts, Great Brickhill 25.

Aston Rowant 2nd enjoyed the better of a draw against Sandford St Martin and so jumped above their opponents at the foot of the table.

Chris Eaton hit 72 and Ryan Chapman 45 as Rowant made 208 before being bowled out in the 53rd over. James Risbridger took 4-36.

Alex Kill (55) and Chas Taylor (41) kept Sandford’s hopes alive, but Paul Humphreys took 3-36 and Tim Foster 3-55 to restrict the visitors to 188-8.

* Rowant 2nd 16, Sandford 10.

Andy Gosling captured 5-31 as Banbury Twenty were sent tumbling to yet another defeat, this time by six wickets at home to Wolverton Town.

Twenty could muster only 101, which never looked like being enough as Town reached 103-4 with few alarms.

* Banbury XX 5, Wolverton Tn 25.

Challow & Childrey stayed on the fringes of the promotion race thanks to a five-wicket win at home to Long Marston, who are in freefall after three straight defeats.

Ian Demain bowled throughout to take 4-81 in Marston’s 200-9.

Opener Vishane Perera (51) got the reply off to an ideal start before Ryan Gordon (56) and Demain (33no) achieved victory in the 40th over.

* Challow 25, Long Marston 8.