James Barrett played a match-winning innings of 79 to help Blewbury & Wallingford beat Bicester & North Oxford by three wickets and collect their first Division 3 win of the season in the Cherwell League on Saturday.

Barrett hit 12 fours and two sixes before being dismissed with his side nine runs short of victory, and although Bicester then had a glimmer of hope, the visitors squeezed home.

Put into bat, Bicester made a decent start and seemed well placed on 71-2.

But within minutes it was 79-5 and then spinner Warren Ainsworth took 4-29 to wrap up the tail.

The hosts’ final score of 140 all out looked well below par, even when Blewbury were reduced to 5-2.

Barrett soon steadied the ship, adding 46 with Harry Warman and 40 with Mark Carey to break the back of the run chase, with victory being secured with six overs to spare.

Abingdon Vale fell to a 44-run defeat against Aston Rowant 2nd in Division 2.

An outstanding all-round performance from Wes Morrick was key the success.

First Morrick, featuring because of an ongoing dispute over his eligibility to play in the Home Counties Premier League, hit 62 in the visitors’ 202-8, which also featured useful contributions from Dominic Whatman (41no) and Alex Jewell (36).

Paul White took 4-43 for Vale, who were then blown away for 158 by Morrick (5-30) as Rowant made it two wins from two. Jason Cardy top-scored with 42.

Challow & Childrey were well beaten by Great & Little Tew 2nd.

Lawrence Brock (3-22) reduced Challow to 25-3, before the hosts fought back through Tom Linnane (42) and Luke Jones (34). Wily old spinner Kevin Taylor then took 3-26 as Challow fell away to 154 all out.

The result was never in doubt once openers Markus Jeacock (49) and Lloyd Brock (40) reached 91 before the first wicket fell, and Tew reached 155-6 in the 44th over, despite Conor Jones’ 4-36.

Challow & Childrey 8, Gt & Little Tew 2nd 25 Didcot were blown away by Matt Bolton, who took 7-23 in 10.5 devastating overs as Bledlow Village won by four wickets.

Aiden Kammel (59) had looked like setting the home side up for a decent total before Bolton entered the fray, dismissing Didcot for 162.

Bledlow lost wickets regularly in reply, with Ian Demain taking 3-42, but eventually reached 143-6 thanks to Ryan Chapman (50no).

Kingston Bagpuize continued their disastrous start in Division 4 with a humiliating 185-run defeat at Kimble.

Sam Agace took 7-23 as Kingston went from 39-2 to 56 all out. The final four wickets fell without a single run being added.

Earlier Kimble had posted 241-6 thanks in part to Steven Richards (78) as only Arthur Verdin (3-52) applied the brakes to the scoring.

Tom Allen batted for all 53 overs of Abingdon Vale 2nd’s innings at Aston Rowant 3rd to finish on 76 not out in his side’s 194-8 in Division 5.

Tim Chilvers added 46.

Allen’s dogged resistance proved invaluable as Paul Butcher (5-26) and Luke Mitchell (4-32) combined to dismiss Rowant for 172 – 22 runs short.

Paul Plumridge (91) just missed out on his ton.