ABINGDON Vale’s promotion hopes suffered a setback after a four-wicket defeat at home to Buckingham 2nd in Division 2.

Only Henry Pickford (56) really got going for the home side as they struggled to 135 all out, Ben Laycock taking 4-38 and Matthew Saunders 4-39.

Laycock then hit 59 not out, leading Buckingham to 136-6.

Challow & Childrey’s hopes were also dented as they could manage only a draw at Cropredy.

Ed Somerton (73) and Richard Lynch (55) saw the hosts set 255-6.

It was a target which proved way beyond Challow as Jake Heath claimed 4-42 for the north Oxfordshire side and the visitors were left clinging on at 166-8 at the close.

Didcot thumped hosts Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd by ten wickets in Division 3.

Rob Keat (5-39) and Elliot Matthews (4-25) ripped through the Shipton batting order for just 102.

Simon Pritchard hit 52 not out and Ian Demain 35 not out to steer Didcot to 105-0 inside 18 overs.

Blewbury & Wallingford drew with relegation-threatened Oxford Downs in a tight contest.

Jack Soppett top-scored with 51 as Downs posted 239-9, Tom Gould taking 3-50 and Scott Harris 3-66.

Blewbury never challenged Downs’ total, closing on 214-7, Steve Roberts taking 4-43 and Harry Warman top-scoring with 66.

Abingdon Vale 2nd’s Division 5 title bid stayed on track after edging Bledlow Ridge by three wickets.

Matt Butcher took 5-30 as Ridge were bowled out for 167.

Vale made good use of the extra overs, reaching the target with four balls to spare as Tom Allen top-scored with 38 not out.

Didcot 2nd came within three runs of beating leaders Thame 2nd, but had to settle for a draw.

Thame had been bowled out in 44 overs for 207, giving Didcot 56 overs in which to chase the target.

Despite batting out the allocation, they finished agonisingly short on 205-8 for a share of the spoils.

Kingston Bagpuize dug deep to earn a draw with Cumnor 2nd.

Joel Washbourn-Calcutt dominated the Cumnor innings, slamming 114 not out in his side’s 276-6.

Toby Ricks replied with 72 for Kingston, but they were left clinging on at 246-9 as the visitors failed to prise out the final wicket.

In Division 8, Natarajan Kaliyamoorthy’s superb haul of 7-38 was in vain as Abingdon Vale 3rd had to settle for a draw at home to Kimble 2nd.

Vale were bowled out in just 34.3 overs for 158, but Kaliyamoorthy’s inspired spell had Kimble clinging on for dear life at 116-9.

Dave Allen starred again for Didcot 3rd, helping his side to a 22-run win at Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 3rd.

Allen top-scored with 59 in Didcot’s 154 all out, before claiming 7-36 as Nondies crashed to 132 all out.