Oxford Downs face the threat of being thrown out of the npower Village Cup after claims that they played an ineligible player in their 10-run semi-final victory over Aston Rowant at Standlake.

A dispute has arisen over whether Lester Smart, who joined the club last year after moving into the area from the north east, where he played Premier League cricket for Sunderland CC, was qualified to play in the competition.

The rules state that to be eligible, players must have played at least eight non- npower Village Cup matches for that club in the previous two seasons (2007 and 2008) including no fewer than four in the previous season.

However, it could be argued that by playing the required number of games last year, Smart – who made 0 not out and took 1-53 from his nine overs in Sunday’s game –was in fact eligible.

Competition organisers The Wisden Cricketer were unavailable to comment, but a decision is expected to be made later this week.

Downs chairman Ted Sandbach said: “There is a certain amount of ambiguity in the rules. We have put our case to The Wisden Cricketer for them to make a decision.”

Aston Rowant chairman Gary Condon revealed that they had originally enquired over whether former Banbury paceman Simon Launder – who also joined Downs last year – was eligible.

When they were assured that he was, having played friendly matches in 2007, Downs then discovered that Smart was ineligble.

Condon agreed that the rules were open to misinterpretation, but rather than see Downs kicked out he said that Rowant would be happy for the game to be replayed at their ground.

“You have got to have played eight games in 2008 and 2007,” he said.

“The interpretation from Wisden’s point of view is that you have got to have played four games in 2007.

“We are quite happy with a replay as long as it is at our ground.

“If we have to go back to their ground, I don’t think that is quite right.”

The dispute over Smart’s eligibility took the gloss off a cracking semi-final, which saw seamer Matt Watts take 5-23 as Downs pulled of a dramatic victory.

Coming on as the fourth change bowler, Watts sent Rowant crashing to 185 all out after Downs had posted 195-8, having won the toss and batted.

Downs were indebted to a second-wicket stand between West Bartlett (74) and Tim Sutton (68no), but no-one else reached double figures as Tim Morgan took 5-36.

Morgan continued his one-man show for Rowant with 86, but with Luke List taking 4-35, he received little support and Watts’ late show clinched victory for Downs.