DIDCOT beat visitors Sandford St Martin by 107 runs to boost their chances of avoiding relegation from Division 2 of the Cherwell League.

Karl Johnston (59) and Ian Demain (56) led Didcot to 248-6 in their 53 overs, before David Slade took 4-40 as Sandford were bowled out for 141.

Sam Chilvers hit 100 not out as Abingdon Vale pulled away from the drop zone with a 54-run victory at home to Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts.

Chilvers’ ton helped Vale recover from 90-7 to set 192-7 as he shared an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 102 with skipper Jonathan Jenkinson.

Left-arm spinner Paul White then showed an encouraging return to form by taking fine figures of 5-40 and Jenkinson 3-37 as Nondies were bowled out for 138.

Conor Jones’ five-wicket haul proved the difference as Challow & Childrey saw off hosts Oxford Downs by 54 runs.

Challow had been bowled out for 176 as spinners Wasim Mehmood (4-45) and Jonny Meardon (3-34) held sway for the hosts, Ryan Gordon hitting 50.

But Jones then took control as he finished with 5-46, Downs being dismissed for 122 in the 34th over.

In Division 3, Blewbury & Wallingford fell to a third straight defeat as they were thumped by 151 runs at Horley.

A 76 from Dave Clark helped Horley chalk up a total of 276-7 and the visitors had no response as Pete Papenfus claimed 5-39 and David De Bruyn 4-43 to restrict them to just 125 all out.

Relegation-threatened Kingston Bagpuize clung on to claim a draw at Witney Mills in Division 4.

Adam Mayho scored a magnificent century for the home side, who declared three overs early on 277-6.

But they found struggling Kingston in resolute form as, led by Toby Ricks (90), they clung on at 168-8, with youngster Jonathan Warner batting out for 45 balls at the end to deny Mills victory.

Abingdon Vale 2nd’s 177-8 wasn’t enough as they were beaten by five wickets at Thame Town 2nd in Division 5.

Paul Butcher’s 88 not out was the highlight of Vale’s innings, but his efforts proved in vain as the home side climbed to 179-5 with one over remaining.

Graham Charlesworth (48), Andrew Howe (48) and Luke Charlesworth (43no) shone as Abingdon Vale 3rd claimed a 28-run victory at Shipton-under-Wychwood 3rd in Division 7.

Vale set the hosts 213-8 and although George Townsend responded with a century his efforts were in vain as the hosts subsided to 185 all out.

Challow & Childrey 3rd were no match for Great & Little Tew 4th, as the home side sealed the Division 9 title with a crushing 140-run victory.