BANBURY 2nd’s Cherwell League Division 1 title hopes suffered a huge setback as they fell to a seven-wicket defeat at home to Dinton, who went top in the process.

Banbury opted to bat first on winning the toss, and, helped by Tom Bartlett (56) and George Tait (38), they set 200-9 in their 53 overs.

But Dinton were up to the task as they cruised home at 203-3 in the 43rd over as Fraser Stuart hit 73 and Mike Sutliff 71.

l Banbury 2nd 7pts, Dinton 25

Tiddington moved up to second and just three points off the top after brushing side previous leaders Long Marston by 100 runs.

Tiddington were put in by the visitors, and they were bowled out in the final over for 188, Will Cooper hitting 44 and Chris Goodman 39, Pete Toovey taking 4-36.

Neil Smith (4-18) and Harry McNeilly (3-24) then ripped through the Marston order as they were shot out for just

88.

l Tiddington 25pts, Long Marston 5

Oxford Downs all-but condemned Horspath 2nd to relegation with a five-wicket victory.

Wasim Mehmood claimed 4-19 and Tom Costley 3-26 to send hosts Horspath tumbling to 116 all out in the 41st over.

Jason Cardy took 3-17 for Horspath, but Downs reached 119-5 to wrap up victory, leaving Horspath 70 points adrift with only 75 available.

l Horspath 2nd 6pts, Ox Downs 25

Reigning champions Aston Rowant 2nd are also staring down the barrel of relegation following a six-wicket defeat at fellow strugglers Twyford.

Atif Ali took 3-39 and Bilal Afzal 3-49 to help restrict Rowant to 177-8 from their 53 overs.

Ali then struck 62 not out and Shabaz Alam 51 to steer Twyford to 178-4 with more than ten overs to spare.

l Twyford 25pts, A Rowant 2nd 7

Graham Charlesworth demonstrated his class as his five-wicket haul helped Abingdon Vale to a two-wicket win at Cumnor in a low-scoring affair.

Charlesworth returned figures of 5-36 and Jonathan Jenkinson 4-21 to send Cumnor tumbling to 99 all out at Park Field.

But Vale struggled in their reply, only reaching the victory target in the 47th over with eight wickets down as spinner Max Mannering took 5-30.

l Cumnor 8pts, Abingdon Vale 25

The race for the Division 2 title took another twist as previous leaders Challow & Childrey crashed to 97 all out to be knocked off the top by hosts Buckingham Town 2nd.

Challow elected to bat first, and were quickly shot out as Ben Laycock took 3-21 and Ben Stafford 3-22.

Olly Dimbylow (3-16) and Ross Packham (3-22) did their best to rescue Challow, but Buckingham edged in at 98-6 to move back up to second place.

l Buckingham 2nd 25pts, Challow 6

Rob Keat took 7-25 as Didcot returned to form with a six-wicket win at home to Bledlow Village.

Keat’s impressive haul sent Bledlow crashing to 83 all out in 28.1 overs.

Ian Demain then hit 31 in Didcot’s reply as they eased in at 87-4.

l Didcot 25pts, Bledlow Village 4

Adam Hall’s excellent unbeaten century helped Oxford 2nd to a crushing

126-run victory at Sandford St Martin.

Hall’s 107no was backed up by Mark Beer (56) and Arthur Muir (53), allowing Oxford to declare on 265-5 in 50 overs.

In reply, Sandford had no answer to Joe Porter (6-35) as they slumped to 139 all out, leaving them just three points above the drop zone.

l Sandford St Martin 4pts, Oxford 2nd 25

Great & Little Tew 2nd remain in the relegation zone, despite a comprehensive seven-wicket win at home to basement boys Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts.

Curtly Slatter was the

all-round star for Tew, taking 4-52 in Nondies’ 198-8, Joe Butler hitting 72.

Slatter then top-scored with 93 to steer Tew home at

199-3, Josh Garrett also chipping in with 54 not out.

l Great & Little Tew 2nd 25pts,

Ox & Bletch Nondies 7

Leaders Leighton Buzzard Town enjoyed a six-wicket win at home to Cropredy to go a point clear.

Buzzard dismissed their visitors for 124 as Dan Scott took 3-23 and Jack Kempster 3-40 and wasted little time reaching 128-4 as Phil Whatmore struck 76.

l Leighton Buzzard Tn 25pts, Cropredy 5