CRICKET: Title race will go to the wire

THE Division 1 title race will go down to the last day after the top two both won their penultimate matches of the season on Saturday.

Westbury saw off Freeland by four wickets, while Horley romped to a seven-wicket triumph at home to Marcham.

Steve Wilkes took 4-18 and Richard Tredwell 3-19 as Westbury bowled out hosts Freeland for just 105, Les Hole hitting 46 not out.

In reply, Sam Harper (33) and Tom Boardman (31no) saw Westbury to 111-6.

At Horley, Rob Palmer’s 4-36 and Dave Eaton’s 3-4 helped to skittle Marcham out for 97.

Horley raced to victory at 100-3 as David Taylor scored 37 not out.

Horley host basement boys Freeland next weekend, while Westbury travel to Marcham.

Shrivenham finished the season in third place after a seven-wicket victory over East Oxford.

Conor Taylor took 4-20 as East Oxford slumped to 94 all out, before Mark Whale (42no) and Rhys Mills (31no) saw Shrivenham home.

Sam Willett scored 107 to help Great Horwood to a 99-run success against Garsington.

Willett’s ton saw Horwood to 210-7, and then Neil Wilkins claimed 5-29 and Nick Glister 3-13 as Garsington were shot out for 111.

In Division 2, the title is still to be decided after Charlbury thrashed rivals Minster Lovell by eight wickets.

The result sees Charlbury close the gap at the top to 11 points with both sides having one game to play.

Batting first, Minster were bowled out for 155 as Ashley Rump took 4-18 and Bimalka Liyanarachchi 4-19.

Charlbury had few scares as they eased home at 157-2, Chris Morgan top-scoring with 86.

At the other end of the table, Witney Swifts dropped into the relegation zone after losing by five wickets at Broughton.

Swifts crawled to 135-9 from their 45 overs, and Broughton eased home at 136-5.

Hook Norton moved out of the bottom two as they thumped basement boys Watlington by eight wickets.

Chris Hammond (4-10) and Robin Scotter (4-19) combined as Watlington were skittled for 56, before Hooky raced to 57-2.

Oxford Caribbean’s rev-ival continued as they beat Letcombe by 50 runs.

Abid Ahmet (53) saw Cari-bbean to 149 all out, Martin Turnbull taking 4-36 for Letcombe.

The visitors then fell for 99 as Nigel George took 4-17 and Carl Palmer 3-15.

East & West Hendred finished their Division 3 campaign at the top of the table, but face an anxious wait to decide their fate as both Stonesfield and Oxenford have one game to play.

Hendred’s 89-run victory over Oxenford puts them 27 points clear at the top, but they could be overhauled by both, if Stonesfield beat East Oxford 2nd and Oxenford triumph at Westcott on Saturday.

Nigel Hutt’s magnificent 115 not out led Hendred to 274-5, Miles Martin chipping in with 68.

In reply, Oxenford fell to 185 all out as Simon Berry took 4-31 and Martin 3-43.

Stonesfield moved up to second with a nine-wicket win at West Ilsley.

Sam Hibberd took 4-25 to help restrict West Ilsley to 156-9.

George Redknap (64) and Jamie Burns (41no) then led Stonesfield to 157-1.

East Oxford 2nd were relegated as they lost their basement battle with Clifton Hampden by 17 runs.

Morley Benson’s 114 not out helped Clifton to 210 all out.

East Oxford battled hard to reach the target, but finished short at 193-9, Mohammed Ayyaz hitting 57 and Amir Faruq 54.