Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup

JOSH Smith smashed a brilliant 136 to set Aston Rowant on the way to a crushing 97-run victory at home to Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts in the semi-finals.

Smith’s superb innings came off 60 balls and with Chris Watling hammering 74 off 43 balls, Rowant raced to 249-3 off their 20 overs.

Nondies were never in the hunt, closing on 152-5 with Nicholas Duxson making 53.

Rowant now await the winners of Oxford and Banbury, who meet in the other semi-final at Roman Way on Sunday (11am).

Oxford booked their place in the last four with a 22-run victory at Oxford Downs in their delayed quarter-final.

Downs restricted Oxford to 117-8, with Daryl Johnson (3-19) and Steve Roberts (3-20) to the fore, before Nick Hands’s unbeaten 26 boosted the visitors’ total.

However, Downs also found runs hard to come by.

James Ellwood hit an unbeaten 50, but they fell short as Jack Stimpson (2-11) and Tom Geeson-Brown (2-17) led an accurate Oxford attack.

RESULTS

Quarter-final

Oxford 117-8 (20 ovs, D Johnson 3-19, S Roberts 3-20), Oxford Downs 95-9 (20 ovs, J Ellwood 50 no).

Semi-final

Aston Rowant 249-3 (20 ovs, J Smith 136, C Watling 74), Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 152-5 (20 ovs, N Duxson 53).