BANBURY 2nd narrowed the gap to one point on Cherwell League Division 1 leaders Dinton to just one point as they defeated visitors Oxford Downs by three wickets.

Downs opted to bat first, but were restricted to 167 all out as Jimmy Phillips took 3-23 and Ross Freeman 3-37.

Banbury’s reply was led by Mark Pallett, who struck 74 not out, while Phillips hit 35 not out as Banbury reached 171-7 with two overs to spare.

l Banbury 2nd 25pts,

Oxford Downs 10

Banbury were able to close in on Dinton after Tom Condon’s half-century helped Aston Rowant 2nd to a 23-run win at the table-toppers.

Condon struck 50 as Rowant were dismissed for 147.

But that proved enough as the home side were all out for just 124 in their reply.

l Dinton 11pts,

Aston Rowant 2nd 25

Cumnor’s good form came to an end with a four-wicket defeat at home to Long Marston.

Matt Lake (49no), Harry Ackland (38) and Michael Race (30) saw Cumnor set 209 all out, Sam Woodruff taking 4-37 for the visitors.

Led by Jeremy Smith’s 84 not out, Marston reached 210-6 with three overs remaining.

l Cumnor 10pts,

Long Marston 25

Tiddington saw off visitors Abingdon Vale by 45 runs to move up to fifth.

The hosts posted 195-9 in their 50 overs, Chris Goodman hitting 42 and Charlie Elliott 41.

David Murphy took 3-37 and Henry Pickford 3-46 for Vale, who were then bowled out in the 43rd over for 150, despite a fine half-century from Jeisimhan Diwakar (53).

l Tiddington 25pts,

Abingdon Vale 10

Horspath 2nd are still looking for their first win after they lost by seven wickets at Twyford.

Once again, the in-form Dominic O’Connor shone for Horspath.

He followed up back-to-back league centuries with 84 as his side set 217-5 in their 50 overs.

But Shahid Mahmood (75), Adam Bone (43) and Atif Ali (42) made light work of the target as Twyford eased in at

219-3 with more than eight overs

remaining.

l Twyford 25pts,

Horspath 2nd 7