SPECTACULAR centuries from Leo Bethell and Chris Watling were the feature of Aston Rowant’s drawn top-of-the-table match at home to Slough.

Although unable to secure a victory, the hosts picked up seven more points than the leaders and are now just eight behind them in joint-second spot.

Put in to bat, Rowant were given a fluent start by Tom Condon (34), before Bethell and Watling produced a superb third-wicket stand of 215.

Bethell hit 104 off 121 balls with three sixes and 14 fours, while Watling contributed 121 from 156 balls including a six and 14 fours.

They helped the hosts to 301-4 declared in 61 overs.

Slough never really went for the chase and finished on 241-5, Shaan Khan finishing on 85 not out.

Oxford produced a much-improved display, but their draw at home to High Wycombe still leaves them in the bottom two.

Choosing to bat first, the visitors were restricted to 249-8 from their 64 overs, with spinners Shami Mendis and Chris Humphreys keeping a tight rein on the batsmen in fast-scoring conditions.

After slipping to 62-3, Oxford were restored by a fourth-wicket partnership of 124 between Muhammad Ayub (77) and Fergus Nutt (60).

But the hosts were never quite up with the rate and finished on 229-7.

Horspath’s Will Robertson starred with figures of 6-49 in a hard-fought draw at Banbury.

The Jersey and Oxford MCCU seamer’s haul came off 17 overs and helped bowl Banbury out for 199 after they had been put in to bat first.

When the hosts stuttered to 88-7, Horspath were well-placed to finally record a first Home Counties win over their opponents.

But Banbury skipper Lloyd Sabin, who made 89 from 174 balls with two sixes and six fours, and Ollie Wright (41) shared a club record eighth-wicket stand of 100 to frustrate the visitors.

Horspath never really looked like threatening the target as they replied with 167-6.

Tom Cosford, with a third successive fifty, was the only batsman to break the shackles, finishing unbeaten on 55 from 54 balls with a six and nine fours.

Thame Town battled hard, but still lost by three wickets at home to Tring Park.

Put in to bat, the hosts made 200 all out, Gamindu Kanishka leading the way with 65 from 104 balls. Off-spinner Michael Payne took 4-21.

With Hassam Mushtaq taking 4-72, Thame sensed victory when the visitors slipped to 154-7.

But an unbeaten 55 from David Brent guided Tring home in the 57 overs to leave their hosts bottom of the table.

A great spell from Anupam Sanklecha has boosted Shipton-under-Wychwood’s chances of avoiding relegation from Division 2.

The skipper returned 6-35 from 16 overs to help his side secure an unlikely 21-run victory in a low-scoring match at Harefield.

Shipton’s second win of the campaign draws them level at the bottom alongside Dinton, but still 39 points from safety with four games to go.

This success looked unlikely as the visitors were dismissed for only 127 in 33.2 overs after choosing to bat first.

Charlie Miller, with 41 off 30 balls, and Steve Bates (31) helped them to 102-4, but the last six wickets fell for 25, with Daniel Ogden returning 3-15.

A devastating opening spell by Sanklecha, well-supported by Adeel Rehman (3-25), reduced Harefield to 40-6.

Michael Barry resisted with 57 from 68 balls, put once he was dismissed, Sanklecha was able to wrap up their innings for 106.

Great & Little Tew kept up their promotion chase with a resounding 141-run victory at Dinton.

Choosing to bat first, the visitors were given a good start by Robbie Catling (59) and Harry Smith (23).

Joe White (34) kept up the good work, while an attractive unbeaten 49 from 51 balls by Curtly Slatter took them to 223-9 from their 58 overs, despite the efforts of Akeel Khan (4-54).

The Dinton batsmen had no answer to the left-arm spin of Joe Thomas, who continued his great run of form with 5-19 in ten overs as they were shot out for 82 in 26.2 overs.

Tew are now just two points behind Datchet in the second promotion position.