YOUNGSTER Sam Powell claimed a brilliant hat-trick as Cumnor continued their climb up the Division 1 table with a comfortable 51-run victory at Oxford Downs.

With Downs chasing Cumnor’s 264-9, Powell removed Will Watts, George Sandbach and Amin Rafiq in successive deliveries.

And that proved crucial as Downs were dimissed for 213, despite an amazing century last-wicket stand.

Opting to bat first, Cumnor got off to an excellent start as openers Will Bull (46) and Jimmy Lee (39) shared a quickfire partnership of 83.

Bull struck seven fours and Lee eight in the visitors’ flying start.

Harry Sutton then removed both openers in quick succession, before Harry Ackland struck a rapid 22.

A mid-innings wobble saw Cumnor reduced to 178-7, but tailender Max Mannering added some late impetus with 48 as Cumnor reached 264-9 from their 50 overs.

Sutton was the pick of the Downs’ attack with 3-38.

Downs were quickly in trouble in their reply as they slumped to 33-5 as Powell took his superb treble.

They continued to lose wickets, and at slipped to 105-9 before a remarkable last-wicket stand of 108 between Matt Woods (48) and Sutton (45no) saw Downs bowled out for 213.

Powell finished with 4-54 from ten overs, while Alex Davies and Adam Jones took two wickets apiece.

RICHARD Simpson’s 64 not out led the way as Banbury 2nd beat hosts Aston Rowant 2nd by 48 runs to keep up the pressure at the top.

Batting first after winning the toss, Banbury were grateful to Simpson’s knock as they struggled to 187-9 in their 50 overs, Rob Waite taking 4-23 and Ben Knowler 4-59.

There was also the unusual occurrence of a Banbury player being out handled the ball as George Tait swatted away a ball destined for the stumps with his hand.

But Rowant were never in the hunt as they slumped to 139 all out, Imran Mohammed taking 3-12 and George Tait 3-29.

Leigh Lewis (40no) top-scored for Rowant.

l Aston Rowant 2nd 11pts, Banbury 2nd 25 Dinton stayed clear at the top as they brushed aside hosts Abingdon Vale by six wickets.

Faisal Ali took 3-30 to help to dismiss Vale for 161, Arthur Jones top-scoring with 81 for the home side.

Will Fisher (67no) and Ali (35) then shone with the bat as Dinton eased to 163-4 in the 33rd over.

l Abingdon Vale 7pts, Dinton 25 Dominic O’Connor’s second successive league century was once again in vain for Horspath 2nd, who lost by 21 runs at home to Tiddington, leaving them still seeking their first win.

Tiddington racked up 275-9 in their 50 overs, thanks largely to Nick Pykett’s 75 not out and 56 from Will Cooper.

Jason Cardy took 3-30 for the visitors, who put up a brave run chase with opener O’Connor hitting an excellent 107 and Chris Jones 44.

But 3-44 from Max Smith plus two wickets apiece for Harry McNeilly and Pykett, helped Horspath to be dismissed for 254 in the 49th over.

l Horspath 2nd 14pts, Tiddington 25 Greg McKenzie hit 105 as Long Marston rattled up a massive 338-5 at home to Twyford.

Richard Bee (75no) and Philip Webb (64) also starred for the home side, who then dismissed Twyford for only 189 to wrap up a 149-run victory.

Sam Bastin returned 5-22 for the hosts.

l Long Marston 25pts, Twyford 8 RYAN Gordon slammed a century as Challow & Childrey returned to winning ways with a five-wicket win at home to Cropredy in Division 2.

Cropredy were all out in the last over for 272 as Matt McInnerney top-scored with 88 and Conor Jones took 5-54.

Challow eased to 275-5 with almost four overs to spare, as Gordon slamming 108 and Justin Penrose 62 not out.

l Challow & Childrey 25pts, Cropredy 10 Richard Cook’s unbeaten century helped Didcot to a 97-run win at basement boys Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts.

Didcot opted to bat first, and they rattled up 293-6 as skipper Cook smashed 120 in 95 balls and Elliot Matthews contributed 79.

Nondies fell to 196 all out in reply as Ian Demain took 5-40, Harry Platt top-scoring for the hosts with 59.

l Ox & Bletch Nondescripts 10pts, Didcot 25 Chris Thompson had a fine all-round performance to help Sandford St Martin to a 43-run victory at home to local rivals Great & Little Tew 2nd.

Thompson top-scored with 56 in Sandford’s 241 all out, Jamie King taking 4-55.

Tew then fell to 198 all out in their reply as the Sandford skipper claimed 4-17.

l Sandford St Martin 25pts, Great & Little Tew 2nd 14 Oxford 2nd finally got off the mark with a 14-run victory at home to Buckingham Town 2nd.

Ian Crosby top-scored with 77 as Oxford were bowled out for only 169 in the 38th over.

But Toby Winn (3-16) and Jacob Humphreys (3-32) were then the heroes for the home side as they helped to dismiss Buckingham for 155 to wrap up their first win of the campaign.

l Oxford 2nd 25pts, Buckingham Tn 2nd 12 Leaders Leighton Buzzard Town thumped hosts Bledlow Village by nine wickets.

Alan Priestley took 5-4 in Bledlow’s 204 all out, before Phil Whatmore hit 102 and Tom Light 76 not out to steer Buzzard to 205-1 in the 30th over.

l Bledlow Village 5pts, Leighton Buzzard 25