Cherwell League.

Division 2.

Sandford St Martin missed the chance to secure their first win of the season in Division 2 when rain stopped play with them 16 runs short of victory over Abingdon Vale.

Nick Best took 4-35, including the key wicket of Vale’s stand-in skipper Ed Tilley (39), as the visitors collapsed from 76-2 to 140 all out.

Put in to bat, Vale struggled on a green wicket and later gifted Sandford two run-outs.

The hosts looked like making light work of the run chase when opener Greg Pearson (34) and No 3 Martin Anson (46) added 71 for the second wicket to bring up their side’s 100.

Paul White then removed Anson and Henry Pickford trapped Pearson leg before to put the game back in the balance, before rain stopped play with 16 overs remaining and Sandford on 125-5.

* Sandford St Martin 8pts, Abingdon Vale 11.

Challow & Childrey extended their winning streak to four matches when they squeezed past Oxford Downs 2nd by two wickets.

Downs’ competitive 214-9 was built around James Ellwood’s 95, before Paddy Daniel gave the final score a boost with his 57 not out.

Olly Dimbylow (4-36) bowled well for Challow, who just made it to 215-8 in time thanks to Vishane Perera (62), Ryan Gordon (55) and Nigel Hume (37), and despite the best efforts of Jack Sopett (4-40).

* Oxford Downs 2nd 12pts, Challow & Childrey 25.

Tiddington have slipped from top to fifth in two weeks after consecutive defeats.

They managed only 149 before being bowled out at Oxford 2nd in the face of some tidy bowling by Taylor Beatty (4-26).

The home side lost five wickets in reply, but Nick Hands hit 39 as they eased to 152-5.

* Oxford 2nd 25, Tiddington 7.

Aston Rowant 2nd will be kicking themselves after they failed to win batting second at home to Wolverton Town.

Tim Foster took 6-78 to help dismiss Town for 213, of which Kieran Lampard made 80.

Ben Mills (92no) and Paul Plumridge (77) batted well for Rowant, but mistimed the run chase as their side came up just short on 210-3.

* Aston Rowant 2nd 12 Wolverton 10.

Kamber Hussain took 6-29 from 11 overs as Long Marston were rolled over for 83 by leaders Twyford.

The visitors wrapped up the win in only 15.3 overs.

* Long Marston 2, Twyford 25