DIVISION 1

THAME Town are Cherwell League champions after a 59-run victory at home to Great Brickhill.

The win puts Thame 53 points clear of Brickhill with just two games remaining, and they are set to return to the Home Counties Premier League next season.

The visitors won the toss and opted to insert Thame at Church Meadow, but the hosts produced a good all-round batting display to set 227-9.

Honey Garg led the way for Thame Town with 48, while there were also good contributions from Will Sutcliffe (40), Jonathan Adams (35) and Mike Higgs (30).

Brickhill were never really in the hunt in their reply as they fell to 168 all out.

  • Thame Tn 25pts, Great Brickhill 7

Cumnor set a new club record as they racked up an enormous 386-7 at Twyford.

Joe Dale led the way with 80, while Devane Warner (77), Mark Farmer (51), Matt Lake (46), Joel Washbourn-Calcutt (42no) and James Fitzjohn (35) all made hay in the sunshine.

Twyford rattled along at more than six an over in pursuit of the target, but fell to 253 all out as Max Mannering took 4-89 and Jamie Curtis 3-33.

  • Twyford 8, Cumnor 25

James Phillips took 5-23 to help Banbury 2nd to a three-wicket win at Long Marston.

Batting first, the hosts were bowled out for 141 as Phillips starred with the ball.

Olly Clarke then top-scored with 33 as Banbury reached 143-7 in the 41st over.

  • Long Marston 9, Banbury 2nd 25

Tiddington crashed to a seven-wicket defeat at home to Leighton Buzzard.

Jon Talbot (56) and Nick Pykett (38) were the main contributions in Tiddington’s 188 all out, Lee Selfe taking 5-53.

Buzzard eased to victory at 189-3 as Dan Scott hit 89 not out and Jack Kempster 52 not out.

  • Tiddington 6, Leighton Buzzard 25

Oxford 2nd are still searching for their first win in the Cherwell League this summer, and have just two games remaining to do so as they drew with fellow strugglers Wolverton Town.

Mursaleen Sadiqi hit 56 and Adam Hall 54 in Oxford’s 241-7.

But 59 not out from Aky Hussain ensured the visitors easily held out for a draw on 181-6.

  • Oxford 2nd 17, Wolverton Tn 6

HORSPATH UNBEATEN RUN ENDS TO LEAVE CHAMPAGNE ON ICE

Division 2

HORSPATH 2nd had to put their title celebrations on ice as they fell to their first defeat of the season at home to Great & Little Tew 2nd.

Lloyd Brock took 5-52 and Ian Bryan 4-32 to help dismiss Horspath for 171, Akheam Fox top-scoring with 40.

Tew wasted little time in posting a five-wicket win, reaching 175-5 in the 29th over as Curtly Slatter hit 49 and Brock 47 not out.

The result saw Horspath’s lead cut to 21 points by Aston Rowant 2nd, with tew a further eights points adrift in third.

  • Horspath 2nd 8pts, Great & Little Tew 2nd 25

Aston Rowant 2nd kept alive their outside title hopes after beating hosts Sandford St Martin by 74 runs.

Rowant were bowled out in the 50th over for 194, as Alex Jewell hit 53 and Simon Smith took 4-36.

But a fine spell from Andrew Dyer (4-41) and Tom Needham (3-24) ensured Sandford were never in the hunt, the hosts falling to 120 all out.

  • Sandford St Mart 6, Aston Rowant 2nd 25

Oxford Downs moved up to fourth, all but condemning hosts Bledlow Village to relegation, with a five-wicket win.

Will Woodward’s 116 allowed Bledlow to declare on 268-8, Johnny Law claiming 4-56.

Downs then put in a tremendous run chase, reaching 269-5 with almost five overs to spare, Will Watts scoring 68, Wasim Mehmood 65 and Amin Rafiq 57.

Bledlow must now win their final two matches and hope Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts do not pick up three points from their last fixtures if they are to stay up.

  • Bledlow Village 10, Oxford Downs 25

Abingdon Vale secured their status with a crushing eight-wicket win at Challow & Childrey.

Spin duo Jonathan Jenkinson (3-10) and Paul White (3-51) combined to dismiss Challow for 145.

Teenager openers Tom Price (61no) and Ben Charlesworth (58) then put on 116 for the first wicket as Vale reached 146-2 in the 37th over.

  • Challow & Childrey 4, Abingdon Vale 25

MATCH OF THE DAY

HAPLESS Didcot virtually surrendered their Division 2 status with a shocking batting performance against fellow strugglers Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts on Saturday.


Didcot were shot out for a pathetic 32 in 23.5 overs, allowing Nondies to ease to a six-wicket victory to move 25 points clear of their relgation rivals.

Oxford Mail:

Karl Johnston is bowled

Didcot skipper Sam Couldrick opted to bat after winning the toss, but was quickly made to rue that decision.


Atif Ali produced a sensational spell of bowling, taking 7-14 in 11.5 overs as he virtually single-handedly shot the hosts out.


Only Shaun Burningham and Couldrick managed to reach double figures, while there were six ducks in the Didcot innings.


The other wickets fell to Mark Strong (2-6) and Irfan Ahmed (1-11), and it was fitting that Ali completed the carnage by trapping No. 11 David Slade lbw for a duck.


Defending such a paltry total, Didcot needed to make quick inroads, and quickly had Nondies 8-2 as openers Jonathan Guthrie and Pablo Mukherjee fell cheaply.


But Ali completed an excellent all-round performance, his 22 not out steering Nondies to victory in the 12th over, despite his side losing two more wickets along the way.


This dismal defeat almost certainly condemns Didcot to relegation, while Nondies live to fight another day.

DIVISION 3

JACOB Heath took sensational figures of 8-34 as champions Cropredy thrashed Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd by eight wickets.


Heath’s haul saw Shipton dismissed for just 68, which proved no problem for Cropredy.

  • Cropredy 25pts, Shipton 2nd 2

Bicester & North Oxford were plunged deeper into the relegation mire after an 88-run defeat at Banbury 3rd.


Tom Hill and Brad Taylor each scored 57 as Banbury posted 218 all out, Richard Simpson taking 4-86.


Only Dan Savin (37) got going in Bicester’s reply as they crashed to 130 all out, Taylor claiming 3-34.

 

  • Banbury 3rd 25pts, Bicester 7

Horley condemned Oxford Downs 2nd to a four-wicket defeat, leaving the Standlake-based side just above the relegation zone.


Darren De Bruyn took 4-30 as Downs were shot out for 132 in their 53 overs.


Dave Clark then hit 47 for Horley, seeing his side to 133-6, Jack Soppett taking 3-42.

 

  • Oxford Downs 2nd 8, Horley 25


Blewbury & Wallingford fell to a two-wicket defeat at home to basement boys Dinton 2nd.


Scott Harris scored 53 not out and Mark Carey 32 as Blewbury set 180-9 in their 53 overs.


But 73 not out from Ashley Smith and 40 not out from Ollie Chaplin helped Dinton to victory at 184-8 to keep alive their hopes of avoiding the drop.

 

  • Blewbury & Wall 11, Dinton 2nd 25

Cublington maintained their promotion hopes after having the better of a draw with Buckingham Town 2nd.


George Coot (63), Greg Jenkins (56) and Sam George (53) helped Cublington to 258-7 in their 53 overs.
Buckingham were forced to cling on for a draw at 180-8.

 

  • Buckingham 2nd 6pts, Cublington 19

DIVISION 5

EAST Oxford closed in on the crown after beating visitors Bledlow Ridge by five wickets.


Atif Ali took 5-37 and Siphe Mzayidume 3-14 to help dismiss Bledlow for a paltry 69, before East Oxford had a few alarms to reach 70-5 and wrap up victory.


East Oxford are 16 points clear of Oxford 3rd at the top of the table, but 27 ahead of third-placed Cumnor 2nd.

 

  • East Oxford 25pts, Bledlow Ridge 5


Cumnor 2nd saw off visitors Horspath 3rd by four wickets.


Chris De Verteuil took 5-42 and Mark Kirsten 4-38 as Cumnor dismissed Horspath for 139 in 32 overs.


Tom Parsons (41) then led the way for Cumnor, steering his side home at 140-6.

 

  • Cumnor 2nd 25, Horspath 3rd 8


Abingdon Vale 2nd edged to an exciting two-wicket victory at home to Long Marston 2nd at Hales Meadow.


Luke Mitchell (3-28) and Paul Butcher (3-33) combined to dismiss the visitors for just 134 in 40 overs.
But Vale struggled badly in reply.


Chris Butcher hit 30, but Vale were grateful to a 34-run ninth-wicket partnership between Mitchell and Max Owen to get home at 135-8.

 

  • Abingdon Vale 2nd 25, Long Marston 2nd 10


Thame Town 2nd had the better of a draw at Aston Rowant 3rd, but found the hosts in resolute form.
Batting first, Thame posted 223-9 as Andy Jinman hit 63 and Alastair Thomas 41.


Jonathan Hern top-scored for Rowant in their reply with 62, but they opted to play out for the draw, closing on 179-6, despite 4-55 from Cian Davies.

 

  • Aston Rowant 3rd 7, Thame 2nd 17


Basement side Twyford 2nd forfeited their match at Oxford 3rd.

 

  • Oxford 3rd 25, Twyford 2nd -10

DIVISION 6-9

DIDCOT 2nd kept up their promotion challenge after a thrilling one-wicket win at home to East Oxford 2nd in Division 6.

Alex Rodman’s 4-85 and 3-6 from Elliot Matthews helped to restrict East Oxford to 195 all out.

Chris McCormack’s 72 then led the way for the home side, but they lost regular wickets to crawl over the line at 199-9.

A five-wicket haul from Ben Clark helped Bicester & North Oxford 2nd to a 38-run victory at home to Buckingham Town 3rd in Division 7.

Earlier, Daniel Clark had hit 84 and Mike Simpson 45 in Bicester’s 243-6.

Ben Clark then returned 5-65 as Buckingham were bowled out for 205.

That result all-but secured Cropredy 2nd the title after they defeated hosts Brackley 2nd by nine wickets.

Brackley were rolled over for just 69 as Harry Walters claimed 5-17 and Patrick Somerton 4-18.

Cropredy eased home at 72-1 inside 12 overs.

In Division 7, Horspath 4th fell four runs short as they chased Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 2nd’s 136, which featured 31 from Ian Gregor, and a fine 3-10 from bowler Hayden Moon (3-10).

Despite both Derek Watts (27) and Ben Henderson (26) getting in, Horspath 4th were all out in the 38th over for 132.