YOUNG off-spinner Max Mannering was the star of the show as he helped Cumnor to an excellent 38-run victory at home to Tiddington in Division 1 of the Cherwell League.

The margin of victory was remarkable given Cumnor had been shot out for just 111 on a damp pitch which offered plenty of assistance to spin.

Only Devane Warner (42) mastered the conditions when Cumnor batted as they were skittled out inside 35 overs, Nick Pykett claiming 5-49 for the visitors.

But spin then accounted for all but one of Tiddington’s wickets as they too struggled with the conditions.

Opening the bowling, Mannering returned superb figures of 6-32 in 13.1 overs, while young leg-spinner Jamie Curtis chipped in with 3-17 off eight.

The other wicket fell to a run out as Cumnor dismissed their visitors for just 73 in 26.1 overs.

Cumnor 25pts, Tiddington 5

Mike Higgs took 5-39 off 16 overs as champions Thame Town saw off Wolverton Town by 135 runs.

Mike Beard (45), Honey Garg (41) and James Adams (36) helped Thame post 238-8, before Higgs took centre stage as Wolverton were dismissed for 103 in 29 overs.

Wolverton 4, Thame 25

Banbury 2nd eased to a 58-run victory at home to Leighton Buzzard Town.

Steve Beck (78no) and Will Hawtin (61) helped Banbury to 238-7 in their 53 overs.

The target proved way beyond the visitors, who stumbled to 180 all out in reply, as Jimmy Phillips took 4-43 and Stephen Hart 3-53.

Banbury 2nd 25, L Buzzard Tn 6

Oxford 2nd must be looking forward to the end of the season as their miserable form continued with a crushing nine-wicket defeat at Long Marston.

James Beesley’s 6-18 ripped through Oxford for just 82, Richard Musk contributing 43.

The hosts raced to 84-1 in ten overs to ensure another early finish for Oxford and another hammering.

Long Marston 25, Oxford 2nd 1 Great Brickhill secured second spot with a seven-wicket victory over visitors Twyford.

George Humphries took 4-49 as Twyford were all out for 120.

Brickhill then eased home at 121-3 to wrap up victory.

Great Brickhill 25, Twyford 4

Division 2

AFTER going 15 matches unbeaten this season, Horspath 2nd lost for a second consecutive week to hamper their Division 2 championship hopes – although they are at least now guaranteed a top-two finish.

They were undone by an outstanding innings by youngster Steve Dobson, who bludgeoned a huge 160 to take Sandford St Martin to a 35-run victory.

With Aston Rowant 2nd getting the better of a draw with Didcot, the title race will go down to the wire, with the two teams locking horns in Saturday’s final match of the season.

Oxford Mail:

  • Sandford’s Chris Thompson is convinced Horspath’s Dom O’Connor is out lbw, but the umpire disagreed Picture: Steve Wheeler

Winning the toss, Horspath put their visitors in to bat, but were soon regretting their decision with Sandford in no mood to hand the title to the home side.

Opener Dobson smashed the ball to all parts in his superb innings, his knock containing 24 fours and four sixes.

It was a truly one-man show, with only two other Sandford players making double figures, Chris Thompson the second highest scorer with 42.

Helped by 41 extras, Sandford were all out in the 45th over for 280 – a formidable target nonetheless, despite giving Horspath 55 overs to reach it.

Spinner Jehan Mohammed was the pick of the home bowling attack as he took 4-55 in 10.1 overs.

Chasing a big target, Horspath needed to get off to a flier, but Chris Thompson removed openers Joe Todd for 15 and Akheam Fox for 35.

Dom O’Connor kept the home side on track with 95 – a knock containing 12 fours – while Mohammed added 43 before he was run out.

And after that wicket, the Horspath lower order fell away to the bowling of Simon Smith (3-83) and Jim Howe (2-36), who took five wickets between them.

Horspath were eventually all out in the 51st over for 245, making next week’s clash at Aston Rowant a winner-takes-all clash.

Sandford 25pts, Horspath 10

Aston Rowant 2nd set up a title showdown with Horspath 2nd next week, despite being unable to complete victory against struggling Didcot.

Visitors Rowant opted to bat first and set 206-7 in their 53 overs, Tim Morgan topscoring with 87.

Tom Needham took 4-27 and Gordon Harris 3-52 in Didcot’s reply, but they resolutely clung on at 195-8 to deny Rowant maximum points, Aidan Kammel top-scoring with 47.

Didcot 9pts, Aston Rowant 2nd 16

Ryan Gordon smashed a brilliant century as Challow & Childrey beat relegationthreatened Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts by 74 runs.

Gordon hit 104 in Challow’s 191 all out, Arfan Ahmed taking 6-40 for Nondies.

The hosts struggled to cope with the bowling of Ollie Dimbylow (6-23) as they crashed to 117 all out in reply.

Oxford & Bletch Nondies 6, Challow & Childrey 25

Abingdon Vale condemned basement boys Bledlow Village to relegation with a thrilling nine-run win at Hales Meadow.

In a low-scoring clash, Vale were shot out for a paltry 104 having won the toss as Matthew Pearce took 4-47 and Ryan Chapman 3-15 – Abingdon No 10 Paul White top-scoring with 27 not out.

But Joe and Matt Butcher starred with the ball to skittle Bledlow for just 95, older brother Joe taking 6-43 and Matt 3-25.

Abingdon Vale 25, Bledlow Village 5

Great & Little Tew 2nd’s last pair denied Oxford Downs victory.

Downs had set 229-8 in their 53 overs, Johnny Law topscoring with 44 not out and Alex Ling hitting 35.

Ian Bryan claimed 4-62 for the visitors.

Regular wickets in Tew’s reply meant they were always up against it, despite 52 from Lloyd Brock and Robbie Catling’s 42.

It was left to Sam Smith and veteran Kev Taylor to cling on at the death as Tew held on at 200-9.

Oxford Downs 19, Gt & Little Tew 2nd 8

Division 3

BLEWBURY & Wallingford moved up to second place with a six-wicket win at Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd.

Scott Harris (5-36) and Charlie Sutton (4-22) combined to skittle the hosts out for just 104, George Townsend hitting 53 not out.

Mark Carey (31) led Blewbury’s reply as they reached 106-4 to seal victory.

Shipton 2nd 5pts, Blewbury & W 25

Ed Somerton claimed 6-36 as champions Cropredy beat Banbury 3rd by five wickets.

Somerton’s haul helped to shoot Banbury out for 77 at Ermont Way, and then Saim Hussain top-scored with 41 as Cropredy reached 79-5.

James Risbridger (5-43) took all the wickets to fall.

Banbury 3rd 5, Cropredy 25

Leg-spinner Richard Simpson claimed 7-50 as Bicester & North Oxford kept alive their hopes of avoiding the drop with a 60-run victory at home to Cublington.

Joe Moorman had hit 36 in Bicester’s 162 all out, Kieron Sear taking 7-36.

Simpson proved tough to play for the visitors as his haul helped to dismiss them for 102 and ensure Bicester take their relegation fight to the final weekend.

Bicester & NO 25, Cublington 7

Oxford Downs 2nd plunged into the bottom two after clinging on for a draw at basement boys Dinton 2nd.

Mark Ludlow hammered 108 for Dinton as they racked up 234-9 in their 53 overs, Steve Roberts taking 3-37.

Downs were never really in the hunt in their reply as they closed on 188-8, Tom Welch finishing 47 not out.

Dinton 2nd 19, Ox Downs 2nd 7

Adam Webb took 7-44 to help Horley to a 111-run victory at home to Buckingham 2nd.

Pete Papenfus scored 59 in Horley’s 189 all out, before Webb condemned Buckingham to 78 all out.

Horley 25, Buckingham 2nd 5

Division 4

TIDDINGTON 2nd secured promotion and condemned Kingston Bagpuize to relegation after a six-wicket victory.

The visitors were bowled out for 165, Patrick Knightley returning 3-34.

Andrew Willis (51) and Jacob Davies (32no) then led Tiddington to 171-4 to secure victory and ensure there will be two divisions between the sides next season.

Tiddington 2nd 25pts, K Bagpuize 7

Pierre Lefort produced a masterful spell of swing bowling as Witney Mills sent visitors Chearsley to a 97-run defeat.

Mike Dove (53), Pete Claridge (51) and Sam Haselgrove (47no) helped Mills set 219-6 in their 53 overs.

Lefort then claimed 6-14 in 9.4 overs as Chearsley were bowled out for 122 in a onesided match.

Witney Mills 25, Chearsley 3

Great Brickhill 2nd virtually secured the title with a thrilling three-run win at Brackley.

Brickhill crawled to 139-9 in their 53 overs, Marcus Critchley top-scoring with 42.

Hamid Miah then claimed 4-57 as Brackley were all out for 136 in an exciting finish.

Brackley 6, Great Brickhill 2nd 25

There was an even closer finish at Kimble, who beat Bletchley Town by one run.

Jordan McCrae’s 83 helped Kimble to 167 all out, before Bletchley fell agonisingly short as they were bowled out for 166 in reply.

Kimble 25, Bletchley Tn 8

Arshad Latif hit 82 as Stokenchurch defeated hosts Leighton Buzzard 2nd by 40 runs.

Latif’s knock helped Stokenchurch to 157 all out, before he claimed 3-26 alongside Paul Maddox’s 4-45 as Buzzard were shot out for 117 in reply.

Leighton Buzzard 2nd 6, Stokenchurch 25

Division 5

OXFORD 3rd condemned rivals Horspath 3rd to an eight-wicket defeat to keep alive their faint title hopes and confirm at least second place.

Horspath were rolled over for just 92 in 31 overs, Chris Jones top-scoring with 32, before Oxford eased home at 95-2.

Horspath 3rd 2pts, Oxford 3rd 25

East Oxford stay top after seeing off hosts Twyford 2nd by seven wickets.

The table-toppers bowled out their rivals for 100, before winning the match with a six to end on 105-3.

Ten points in next week’s home match against Horspath will secured East Oxford the title.

Twyford 2nd 4, East Oxford 25

At the other end of the table, Aston Rowant 3rd ended Cumnor 2nd’s hopes of a top-two finish with a 29-run victory.

Mark Walker (49) and Ben Mills (48) helped hosts Rowant to 231-9 in their 53 overs, Chris De Verteuil taking 4-67.

James Lee (63) and Jamie Douglas (53) shone in Cumnor’s reply, but they were all out for 202 as Tim Foster claimed 4-47 and Paul Humphries 3-53.

A Rowant 3rd 25, Cumnor 2nd 8

Chris Jeffcock hit a century as Thame 2nd saw off visitors Long Marston 2nd by four wickets.

Earlier, Rory Miscampbell hit 79 as Marston set 217-6 in their 53 overs.

But Jeffcock (107) led Thame’s reply as they reached 218-6.

Thame 2nd 25, L Marston 2nd 10

Abingdon Vale 2nd fell to a seven-wicket defeat at Bledlow Ridge.

Stuart Cardy hit a painstaking 56 not out, but other Vale batsmen struggled as they crawled to 116-8 in 53 overs.

Rory Spiers then scored an unbeaten 53 to lead the home side to 122-3 in the 25th over.

Bledlow Ridge 25, Abingdon 2nd 4

Divisions 6-9

DIDCOT 2nd’s promotion hopes are in their own hands after they beat hosts Sandford St Martin 2nd by 20 runs in Division 6.

Didcot were all out for 202 in the last over.

Thanks to a fine spell from Andy Griffiths (4-50), that proved enough to wrap up victory as Sandford were bowled out for 182 in the 40th over, leaving Didcot ten points ahead of third-placed Challow.

Challow kept their promotion bid alive with an eightwicket win at home to Wolverton Town 2nd.

Patrick Bryan hit 78 not out in Challow’s 140-2 as they successfully chased down the visitors’ 139 all out.

Cropredy 2nd were crowned champions of Division 7 without bowling a ball after Horspath 4th conceded their game.

Majid Aslam’s six-wicket haul for Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 2nd was all in vain as his side lost by 36 runs at Oxford 4th.

Alf Symons hit 40 in Oxford’s 150 all out, Aslam taking 6-26.

But Nondies fell to 114 all out in reply, Hamza Khan top-scoring with 31.

Aston Rowant 4th secured promotion from Division 8 after seeing off hosts Blewbury & Wallingford 2nd by four wickets after just chasing down their target of 96.