MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE

Division 1

AN EASY victory over Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts sent Shipton-under-Wychwood to the top of the table for first time this season.

Shipton, who face three of the bottom four teams in their remaining four fixtures, dismissed Nondies for only 104.

Only Shabaz Alam (40) put up much resistance against left-arm spinner Shaun Miller, who took 4-21 from 11.2 overs, and Ryan Newhook (3-26).

Tim Senior then continued his good recent run with 51 as Shipton eased to 109-4 despite Ayaz Khan’s 3-42.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 25pts, Oxford & Blethchingdon Nondescripts 5

Morning leaders Oxford Downs were outplayed in a draw with Great & Little Tew, who have lost only one of the past eight matches.

Tew, asked to bat, racked up 251-7 through Edmund Gross (87), Curtly Slatter (62) and Joe White (33), with 29 runs coming off the last 18 balls.

Wes Bartlett then struck 62 for the home side, but Liam Manley’s 3-48 helped restrict them to 191-8.

Oxford Downs 7, Great & Little Tew 19

Cumnor stayed in the title race by beating Bourton Vale by seven wickets.

Joe Shillaker (4-70) and Adam Cook (4-71) put Vale on the back foot before Rob Langley’s late flurry saw him score 44 not out and his side race from 169-8 after 50 overs to 199 all out in the last three overs.

Cook (46) and Alex Kidd (34) set up Cumnor’s reply before skipper Sam Jones (77no) finished the job as only Tom Arkell (3-33) enjoyed any success with the ball.

Bourton Vale 6, Cumnor 25

Oxford 2nd drop into bottom two after collecting only a couple of points from their rain-affected draw with Buckingham Town.

Andrew Fletcher hit a fine 104 from 148 balls and Jonny Cater crashed a run-a-ball 43 in Town’s competitive total of 194-6 from 51 overs.

Oxford were then reduced to 48-8 in the 32nd over.

Jon Allcock hit a defiant 60 before being the ninth man out with the score on 97 and four balls remaining.

No 11 Rupert Evans survived one of those four deliveries to secure a draw on 98-9.

Oxford 2nd 2, Buckingham Town 18

Bletchley Town managed 174-9 at home to Leighton Buzzard Town in an innings reduced by rain to 44 overs. James Ward top-scored with 34 while Tom Light took 4-28 from his nine overs.

Town received only 38 overs in reply and did not threaten the victory target, but were comfortable enough on 127-7 despite James Sprittles’ 4-45.

Bletchley Town 16, Leighton Buzzard Town 5