Kidlington's Division 2 West title hopes in the Sommers Home Counties Premier League lie in tatters after an abject display saw them crash to a nine-wicket defeat against Gerrards Cross at Stratfield Brake.

Gerrrards Cross outplayed their hosts, and such was their command that Kidlington only managed to accrue a paltry four points.

And to add insult to injury, two of those were deducted due to a poor over rate.

Things had looked different when Cross won the toss and inserted Kidlington on a flat track.

The home side raced to 50, scoring at seven an over as Richard Howitt (51) and Nawaz Ali (40) played freely.

But the introduction of Jon Newell, bowling off spin to a 7-2 offside field, slowed the run rate dramatically.

He removed both openers by lunch and went on to take the wickets of Andrew Buckingham, Shahbaz Ali and Dave Taylor (46) for match-winning figures of 5-69 as Kidlington were bowled out for 215.

Kidlington needed to dismiss the dangerous Matt Eyles and Mark Wright early on to have a chance.

But Taylor's ploy of opening with his slower bowlers backfired, and after seamer Josh Lalor removed Eyles, Wright (121no) and Alan Duncan (44no) took Gerrard Cross to victory.