Andy Buckingham set Oxford Downs on the way to a six-wicket win at home to Cumnor in the Oxfordshire semi-final of the Yorkshire Tea Village Cup – before ending up in hospital after suffering a nasty blow to his mouth.

Buckingham had made 67 as Downs chased Cumnor’s 181-8 when he top-edged a delivery into his face, and retired hurt.

He was taken to the minor injuries unit at Witney Hospital before being transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, from where he was released after treatment to his teeth and eight stitches.

With Wes Bartlett making 42, Downs eased home at 186-4 with 5.1 overs to spare, to clinch a place in the final against Great & Little Tew, who were handed a walkover by Challow & Childrey, at Standlake this Sunday.

James Lee (50) and Adam Cook (46) were the mainstays of the Cumnor innings.

Now Downs are hoping Buckingham will be fit to line up in the final.

“I think he’s going to play on Sunday,” said skipper Darryl Woods.

“I have spoken to him and although the doctors say he shouldn’t play, it will be difficult keeping him away.

“He’s had a couple of teeth pushed back on the bottom rung, so to speak, and has had eight stitches in his lip.

“He went to get his teeth reset at the dentist.

“But he’s in good spirits. He posted a picture on Facebook.

“He’s a tough old cookie and he went off straightaway, so I knew something was wrong.”

It will be the second time in two days the finalists meet as they play at Tew in the Cherwell League on Saturday.

Challow caused raised eyebrows when they conceded their semi-final as they were unable to field a side due to injuries and poor availablility.

Nigel Hume, the captain of Challow, who reached the county final in 2011, said the club really had “no option.”

“A lot of our first team are new to the club this season, which makes them ineligible,” he said.

“So we’ve been struggling to field a strong side in the Village Cup.

“On top of that we’ve had a large number of injuries, which meant we just could not get a side out.”

Tew skipper Andy Harris said: “We’re a little bit disappointed because we would have liked to have played the game, but also quite pleased we have got through to the final.”

Moreton CC, near Didcot, defeated Purley-on-Thames by five wickets to reach the Berkshire final.

Will MacDonald took 4-29 to restrict Purley to 155 all out, and then made 35 as Moreton eased home.

In this Sunday’s Berkshire final, Moreton are away to Wraysbury, near Windsor.