MP Sports Cherwell League - Div 3

Sandford St Martin are now out on their own at the top, but had to fight all the way to see off Banbury Twenty by one wicket. Seamer Greg Pearson took 3-39 before Simon Smith (4-41) reduced Twenty to 170 all out, David Clark making 38. The home side fared little better against experienced campaigners Michael Thomas (4-82) and Keith Arnold (3-72), but Alex Kill hit 33 and the tail clung on to reach 172-9.

Sandford St M 25pts, Banbury XX 11

Second-placed Tiddington were put into bat by visitors Banbury 2nd, and were soon in trouble on 6-2. Three hours later they looked set for victory after Nick Pykett had hit 109 at quicker than a run a ball and Mohsin Habib stroked 79 in a 200-run partnership, before Matt Johnston scored an unbeaten 49 in their 288-7. Banbury showed no interest in winning the match after tea, with Mark Rorich batting out all 57 overs to finish on 80 not out in his side’s 181-4.

Tiddington 12, Banbury 2nd 9

Abingdon Vale’s batting woes continued, as they followed totals of 101 and 88 with an even worse performance at home to Wolverton Town. Town’s 17-year-old left-arm seamer Haroon Malik swung the ball to great effect to take 7-14, while Atif Akhlaq took 3-7 as Vale crumbled to 48 all out in just over an hour. Graham Charlesworth took 4-26, but was powerless to stop Town reaching 50-5.

Abingdon Vale 5, Wolverton Tn 25

Ed Oakley took 6-35 to rip through Long Marston’s batsmen for 90 and set up a comfortable Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts win. Abdul Rashid threatened to emulate Oakley, but his 4-14 was not enough to prevent Nondies reaching 91-5.

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondies 25, Long Marston 5

Twyford are finding the step up from Division 3 tough as they slumped to a third defeat in a row, this time at Leighton Buzzard Town. Tanveer Nadeem (70) and Josh Goff (45) gave the visitors hope when they helped post a respectable 198-8. Jack Kempster (3-31) and Lee Selfe (3-52) took most of the wickets to fall. But those hopes were dashed by Dan Scott (64), Phil Whatmore (59) and Kempster (37no), who kept Town ahead of the rate and saw them to 199-5 in the 45th over.

Leighton Buzzard Tn 25, Twyford 8