Jones and Leader see Sandford get better of Oxford

Sandford St Martin beat Oxford II by seven wickets in division two of the Cherwell Cricket League.
Sandford St Martin's Simon Smith took four wickets against OxfordSandford St Martin's Simon Smith took four wickets against Oxford
Sandford St Martin's Simon Smith took four wickets against Oxford

Oxford’s Adam Hall batted patiently for 30 overs for his 29 before falling to Simon Smith for the first of his four wickets.

Smith ended the innings with 4-25 off eight overs. Fellow spinner Nick Best supported well with two wickets while Alex Davis top scored with 47 in the visitors’ 162.

In reply, Sandford made brisk work of knocking off the 162 required for the loss of only three wickets with skipper Chris Thompson scoring 39. But main honours went to Kris Jones 46no and Nick Leader 43no who saw Sandford home in the 36th over.

Cropredy fell to a four wicket defeat at Challow & Childrey.

The visitors got off to a poor start falling to 55-4 with Connor Jones 4-30 doing the damage, only Russell Beckett contributed with 26. Cropredy rallied and posted 189-9 with a patient 56 from Luke Cherry and an explosive 44 from Jake Heath.

The Cropredy bowlers found Ryan Gordon 92 in fine form and Justin Penrose 67 to build the backbone of the run-chase.

Despite taking five late wickets with Jake Heath picking up 4-47, Cropredy were unable to make the vital breakthroughs early enough.

Great & Little Tew II drew at Oxford Downs.

George Sandbach 45 gave Downs a good start but they were pegged back to 69-3 from 15 overs as Robbie Shurmer 3-59 removed the top order.

Amin Rafiq 53 and James Lauder 71no rebuilt the innings before accelerating the score in the last ten overs as Downs reached 256-5 from their 53 overs.

In reply, David Fanghanel-Powles 68 and Marcus Jeacock 33 took Tew to 108 off 24 overs. Jeacock was needlessly run out, Matt Warner and Shurmer 38 continued to bat positively but when both went in quick succession the run chase stalled and Tew closed on 208-7 from their 47 overs

Banbury lost by 118 runs at Long Marston in division one.

Century-maker Simon Butler 116 and Matthew Storey 82 helped the hosts 276-5. In reply, Josh Megson hit an unbeaten 78 runs but James Beesley took 8-55 as the visitors were dismissed in the 43rd over.

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