East Oxford’s title hopes were given a boost when rain saved the day in their OCA Division 1 match at home to rivals Garsington on Saturday, writes KIEREN BUSHNELL.

Garsington rattled up 206-6 between the showers as Qaiser Naveed hit 62 and Mohammed Sarfraz 54.

In reply, East Oxford were struggling at 116-6, only for the heavens to open again to force the players off.

It means East Oxford stay top, and with games in hand, remain favourites.

Westbury maintained their challenge with a six-wicket win at Great Horwood.

Tom Young took 5-9 and Richard Tredwell 4-26 as Horwood were shot out for 104, Sam Harper (47) leading Westbury to 105-4.

Rain ruined hosts Hook Norton’s run chase as they were 50-1 in reply to Minster Lovell’s 80 all out.Robin Scotter took 6-37 to skittle Minster.

Chadlington and East & West Hendred both defied the wet weather to post victories in their chase for the Division 2 crown.

Chadlington thrashed Tetsworth by six wickets after skittling their hosts for only 44.

Freddie Simon (4-14) and Steve Hunt (4-16) were chief destroyers, and then Chadlington reached 45-4.

Hendred beat hosts Westcott by 29 runs in a high-scoring clash.

Ian Clewley (80) and Ivan Mulford (59) helped Hendred to 274-9, Rehman Ullah taking 5-55.

Westcott reached 245-7 in their reply, Mike Herriott hitting 85 and Jamie Baker 70.

In Division 3, Radley thumped visitors Witney Swifts by ten wickets.

Mark Alder (3-3), Omar Hussain (3-18) and Darren Jones (3-20) combined to dismiss Swifts for 59, before Matt Launchbury (36no) led Radley home.

Hailey appear doomed to the drop after losing by eight wickets against visitors Winslow Town.

Fenton Price took 4-8 and Alex Teale 4-28 as Hailey were all out for 77. James Gaskins (58no) saw Winslow to 78-2.

Only two matches survived in Division 4.

Chesterton beat Deddington by 123 runs to all but assure promotion.

Phil Lowe (79no) and Graham White (54) helped the visitors to 206-4, and then Lee Price claimed 4-21 to help restrict Deddington to 83-9.

Gary Cook claimed 6-16 as hosts Eynsham beat Charlbury 2nd by eight wickets, Charlbury making just 73.

Garsington 2nd’s Division 5 title hopes suffered a setback as they lost by ten runs at home to Uffington.

Dan Painter (56) and Jimmy Wallbridge (47) helped Uffington to 189 all out, despite 5-32 from Arshad Mehmood, but Garsington fell just short on 179 all out, Painter taking 4-33.

Wolvercote closed the gap at the top to 12 points as they edged out Stanton St John Willows by one wicket.

Simon Burns was the star with 6-17 to help skittle the visitors for 107.

Wolvercote struggled to 110-9 for a narrow win, Tim Macintyre hitting 48 and Rezwan Rana taking 4-25.

Kilkenny beat Brill by three wickets in the only other match to survive.

Restricting their visitors to 132-6, Duncan Macdonald (78no) then led the way in Kilkenny’s 134-7.

Kidlington added the Division 6 title to last week’s Steve Dixon Cup triumph with a three-wicket win at Westbury 2nd.