EAST Oxford denied Westbury victory as they battled out for a hard-fought draw in their Division 3 clash at Lincoln College.

The result means East Oxford are still looking for their first victory of the season, while Westbury lost ground on leaders Wolverton.

After winning the toss, East Oxford opted to bowl and the decision appeared to be vindicated early on as they removed opener Tom Gurney and No 3 Val Brooke with just 11 runs on the board.

But a magnificent third-wicket stand of 141 between Olly Tice and Graham Judd put Westbury back on track, Judd finishing with an excellent 83, an innings containing 12 fours.

Tice contributed 50, while Tom Wilson finished 61 not out as Westbury were bowled out in the 50th over for 262.

Richard Burton was the pick of the East Oxford attack, finishing with 3-51 from 12 overs.

In reply, the home side lost wickets at regular intervals, with only Mubashar Hassan really getting going with 57.

Sulaiman Hussain chipped in with 28 and Chetan Walia 26, but East Oxford opted to shut up shop for the draw, closing on 207-8.

Charlie Harper, Harry Williams and Richard Tredwell took two wickets apiece for the visitors.

  • East Oxford 9pts, Westbury 19

Daniel Savin claimed a superb six-wicket haul to help Bicester & North Oxford to an eight-wicket victory at Banbury 3rd.

Savin’s 6-17 helped to dismiss Banbury for just 71, despite a determined knock from skipper Neil Megson, who showed superb concentration for a 91-run ball 24.

Bicester cruised home inside 23 overs, Nick Moorman top-scoring with 31 not out.

  • Banbury 3rd 2pts, Bicester & NO 25

Terrific centuries from Chris King (120no) and Jamil Raja (108) helped leaders Wolverton Town to a massive 336-3 declared in 49 overs at Great Brickhill 2nd.

They then bowled their hosts out for 158 as Atif Akhlaq took 3-22 and Idrees Butt 3-41.

  • Great Brickhill 2nd 3pts, Wolverton Tn 25

Oxford Downs 2nd crashed to a 123-run defeat at Cublington.

The home side racked up 308-6 declared in 47 overs, before dismissing Downs for just 185.

  • Cublington 25pts, Oxford Downs 2nd 5

DIVISION 4

Veteran seamer Ali Wolfe returned outstanding figures of 7-50 as Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd thrashed struggling Dinton by seven wickets to pick up their first win of the season.

Wolfe’s haul reduced visitors Dinton to 163 all out, Jamie Law hitting 53.

Ian Harris (70) and youngster Harry Davies (56no) then starred in Shipton’s reply as they cruised to 164-3.

  • Dinton 2nd 6pts, Shipton 2nd 25

Left-arm spinner Eddy Dunn claimed a five-wicket haul as Minster Lovell hammered visitors Thame Town 2nd by 142 runs.

Batting first after being inserted, Minster posted 235-9 in their 53 overs, Jacob Mayers top-scoring with 45 not out and Ollie Mersh hitting 42, George Patey taking 4-66 for the visitors.

Thame were never in the hunt in their reply, Dunn taking 5-25 as they were bowled out for 93.

  • Minster Lovell 25pts, Thame Tn 2nd 4

Witney Mills are level on points at the top with Minster after their crushing six-wicket win at Bletchley Town.

Seam duo Ollie Burney (5-40) and Ben Madden (4-39) again shone for Mills as they dismissed the home side for 105.

Adam Mayho then hit 47 not out and Sam Cross chipped in with 37 as Mills cruised to victory at 106-4 in the 34th over.

  • Bletchley Tn 5pts, Witney Mills 25

Colin Bird starred with bat and ball for Tiddington 2nd as they defeated visitors Brackley by four wickets.

Bird took 5-30 and Jordon Davis 3-41 to dismiss Brackley for 151 in the 48th over.

Bird then finished 41 not out to steer Tiddington to 152-6 to secure maximum points.

  • Tiddington 2nd 25pts, Brackley 8

Horspath 3rd are still without a victory after losing a low-scoring clash with Stokenchurch by three wickets.

Josh Triggs took 6-28 as Horspath were dismissed for just 85.

Stokenchurch also lost regular wickets, but crept over the line at 88-7.

  • Horspath 3rd 7pts, Stokenchurch 25

DIVISION 5

LEG spinner Sam Herbert took 4-16 to fire Cumnor 2nd to the top of the table as they saw off visitors Oxford 3rd by 27 runs at Park Field.

In a low-scoring encounter, Cumnor had been dismissed for just 132 as Mark Sheehan took 5-21 and Alf Symons 3-22.

Extras were the top-scorer with 32.

But Oxford were not able to chase down the meagre target as Herbert and Barney Hodder-Williams (3-30) combined to dismiss them for 105.

  • Cumnor 2nd 25pts, Oxford 3rd 6

Luke Higgins took a five-wicket haul, but Didcot 2nd were left clinging on for a draw at home to Cropredy 2nd.

Higgins’s haul, plus 3-29 from Kieran Beesley helped to dismiss the visitors for 156 in the 51st over.

However, Didcot lost regular wickets, James Coleman the pick of the Cropredy attack with 4-40, as they held on at 144-9 to avoid defeat.

  • Didcot 2nd 9pts, Cropredy 2nd 15

Marco Cecchini hit 93 not out for Kingston Bagpuize, but it was not enough for his side to force victory as Abingdon Vale 2nd opted to shut up shop for a draw.

Cecchini and Will Woodley (45no) saw Kingston to 186-2 in their 53 overs.

George Woodley then took 4-30 and Jonathan Warner 3-20 in Vale’s reply, as they crawled along to 140-8, Paul Butcher hitting 48.

  • King Bagpuize 17pts, Abingdon 2nd 2

An outstanding all-round display from Rhiann Krynauw was not enough for Leighton Buzzard Town 2nd as they had to settle for a draw at Kimble.

Krynauw smashed 142 and Mark Burfoot 56 as Buzzard racked up 278-6 in their 53 overs.

He then took 4-3 in Kimble’s reply, but they made no attempt to chase the target, closing on 139-8.

  • Kimble 4pts, Leighton Buzzard Tn 2nd 25

Bledlow Ridge cruised to a six-wicket win at Long Marston 2nd.

Mark Dakin took 5-50 to restrict the hosts to 199-9, before Sam Rolfe (81no) and Dakin (43) saw Bledlow home at 203-4.

  • Long Marston 8pts, Bledlow Ridge 25