Shipton-under-Wychwood comprehensively beat Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts on Saturday to go top of Division One of the MP Sports Cherwell League.
The visitors were dismissed for just 104 with only Shabaz Alam (40) offering much resistance. Left arm spinner Shaun Miller did the damage for the home side, taking 4-21 while Ryan Newhook chipped in with figures of 3-26. Tim Senior led Shipton to their target with an unbeaten 51, as the home side won by six weeks.
Oxford Downs dropped to second in the table after they could only draw with the in-form Great & Little Tew. Put in to bat, Tew made 251-7 with Edmund Gross top scoring with 87. He was supported by Curtly Slatter (62) and Joe White (33). Downs were always struggling to reach the target with Liam Manley taking 3-48 to keep the home side under pressure. Wes Bartlett was the best of the Oxford batsmen with a knock of 62 as they saw out their overs to finish on 191-8.
Cumnor kept their title hopes alive with a seven-wicket away win at Bourton Vale. The home side were all out for 199 with Joe Shillaker (4-70) and Adam Cooke (4-71) both impressing with the ball for Cumnor, and only a late rally from Rob Langley (44 no) sparing Bourton's blushes. Cooke (46) and Alex Kid (34) set Cumnor on their way and an unbeaten 77 from Sam Jones saw them over the line despite Tom Arkell taking 3-33 with the ball.
In Division Two, Abingdon Vale made it tight at the top with a six-wicket win over Challow & Childrey. Visitors Challow were asked to bat and compiled a score of 177-9 thanks to Olly Dimbylow (35), Nigel Hume (32) and an unbeaten lower order 45 from Steve Burry. Will Barker made 52, Jamie Boon 49 and Tom Bryan 43 as the home side knocked off the runs in double quick time.
Matthew Warner (93) and Marco Cecchini (65) excelled with the bat as Kingston Bagpuize took victory by four wickets over Dinton 2nds at home. The visitors made 225-7 thanks to Faisal Ali (45) but were restricted by Warner's excellence with the ball, taking 4-62, before his half century saw the home side over the line.
Witney Mills remain rooted to the foot of the table after another poor batting display at Cropredy. Witney made just 91 as Wayne Hazel claimed 4-43 and James Coleman 3-6 and the home side easily made up the deficit with a half century for Joe Fox (50 no) and Luke Cherry (36 no).
Marcham, without a win all year in OCA Division One, were forced to concede their tie to top of the table Garsington on Saturday to move into minus points territory. Elsewhere, Minster Lovell came away from Tetsworth with a five-wicket victory. The home side were all out for 178 with Caswin Morris (90) falling just short of his century.
But Chris Morgan (3-52) and Jamie Cross (4-30) made sure the visitors had a reachable target and Eddie Dunn (79) helped them across the line.
In Division Two Faringdon kept up the pressure on leaders Broughton with a three-wicket win at Oxenford. The home side were all out for 113, with Dipayan Das top scoring with (37). Andrew Mcdowall (3-63) and Simon Cornish (3-14) performed well with the ball for Faringdon, and Mike Hume hit an unbeaten 43 as they finished on 116-7.
Witney Swifts lost again, this time to Oxford Caribbean at home. Only able to post a total of 79, Witney got nowhere near the visitors target of 168 despite the efforts of Zabi Saeed (4-8) and Carl Palmer (3-11).
