Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts’ paceman Ed Oakley took 6-23 in a devastating burst to reduce Division 2 title rivals Sandford St Martin to 48-9 on Saturday, writes Graham Scott.

A final-wicket partnership of 65 between Andy Goffe and Chris Thompson helped Sandford salvage some pride, but Thompson was stumped with his side still 63 runs short of victory.

Thompson normally features in the top four, but was batting at number 11 because he is recovering from a bout of glandular fever. He kept running to a minimum by hitting 44 of his 47 runs in boundaries.

Oakley made the most of his height to extract plenty of bounce from the Sandford track, and was ably supported by Ross Brown (3-75).

Nondies had been in trouble themselves, with only Tim Rattigan, of the top six, reaching double figures. But from 86-6 they recovered to 175 all out thanks to Ian Mead’s 75 from 78 balls and his 83-run seventh-wicket partnership with Jon Guthrie.

James Risbridger claimed three wickets in his opening spell and returned to remove Mead and last man Brown to finish with 5-52.

The result sent Nondies back to the top of the table, but there seems every chance that when the two sides meet again on the final Saturday of the season, it could be to decide the destiny of the title.

Sandford St Martin 6pts, Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 25