BICESTER & North Oxford took another step towards the Oxfordshire T20 finals day with a convincing seven-wicket win against Witney Swifts.

The result lifted Bicester to second spot behind Banbury in the North Group of the Bernard Tollett Cup.

Swifts crashed to 29-5, before Chris King’s unbeaten 35 lifted them to 102-7, while Danny Clarke’s four overs of spin cost just seven runs.

Olly Ward, with 49 off 29 balls, including five sixes, sped Bicester to 103-3 in just 11.3 overs.

Ward’s impressive form has seen him smash 172 runs – 134 of which have come in boundaries – in just three games.

Victory in the final group game of the season away at Witney Mills next week will guarantee Bicester a place at finals day, at Sir Paul Getty’s Wormsley ground on Saturday, September 16.

A brilliant spell of 4-6 from Rachael Potter set up Oxford Downs’s seven-wicket victory over Cumnor Bears in the South Group.

Potter’s spell restricted Cumnor to 68, before George Sandbach’s swashbuckling 35 not out propelled Downs home in the seventh over.

Horspath still lead the way, even though their match with Didcot was washed out.

BERNARD TOLLETT T20 CUP

NORTH GROUP

Witney Mills 102-7 (C King 35no), Bicester & North Oxford 103-3 (O Ward 49).

Great & Little Tew 136, Cropredy 85.

Shipton-under-Wychwood w/o Sandford St Martin.

SOUTH GROUP

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondies 74-4 (15 ovs), Aston Rowant Steamcats 75-2 (6.2 ovs, J McDougall 48).

Cumnor Bears 68 (R Potter 4-6), Oxford Downs 69-3 (G Sandbach 35no).

Thame Town CC 112-7 (M Furness 35, R Musk 4-26), Oxford 105-8 (C Jeffcock 4-11).

Didcot Daredevils v Horspath – abandoned.