CRICKET: Vale's title hopes crushed

12:09pm Wednesday 3rd September 2008

Abingdon Vale's Division 2 promotion dreams in the Oxford Times Cherwell League are all but over for another season, but only after a tremendous scrap with leaders Dinton at Hales Meadow on Saturday Chasing Vale's 167 all out, Dinton were reduced to 107-7 by home captain Ed Tilley, who bowled with control to take 5-46.

But Darren Risden (34no) and Rob King swung the bat to good effect to hit the required runs without further loss.

Earlier Mike Cook had made 51 and Paul Edwards 45 in Vale's innings, while Scott Bowler took 5-46.

Abingdon Vale 10pts, Dinton 25.

Challow & Childrey will play another season in Division 2 after they lost by 60 runs at home to Long Marston.

Mike Lyons (58), Mark Green (64) and Will Dallimore (75) all batted well as Marston posted 270-7.

Nick Meadows then hit 74 and James Phillips 40, but the rest of the Challow line-up could not match their efforts and fell away to 210 all out.

Challow 7, Long Marston 25.

Kingston Bagpuize were inspired by skipper Dave Pearce as they beat relegated Cumnor 2nd by 120 runs to boost their own chances of avoiding the drop Pearce hit 50 of Bagpuize's 210 all out - of which Richard Oakey contributed 64 - before taking 7-54 as the visitors were shot out for 90.

K Bagpuize 25, Cumnor 2nd 5.

Challow & Childrey 2nd are relegated from Division 4 after suffering a predictably heavy loss at title contenders Twyford.

Jack Deal (78), Sam Lyon (73) and Adam Bone (52) all scored quickly to set up Twyford's declaration after 48 overs on 239-5.

Sam Roberts then took 4-25 as Challow were bowled out for 116.

Twyford 25, Challow & Childrey 2nd 3.

Didcot face the ignominy of going down two years in a row after being relegated from Division 5 after losing at champions-elect Great Brickhill.

The home side declared after 47 overs after amassing 281-5 courtesy of Shannon Tubb (76), John Cook (46) and Greg MacDonald (40).

Matt Jones (86) fought hard to stave off the inevitable, but Tubb took 4-17 and Didcot were all out for 162.

Great Brickhill 25, Didcot 5.

Abingdon Vale 2nd seamer Robin Newman toiled away to finish with figures of 3-118 as Ali Jarvis (60) and Jonathan Cooke (50) saw Banbury 3rd on their way to 241-6 dec.

Michael Howe-Davies was the main contributor to Vale's 213-8 in a drawn match.

Banbury 3rd 16, Abingdon Vale 2nd 9.

Trevor Spindler took 5-40 to bowl Wallingford to victory at Wolverton Town 2nd in Division 6.

Only James Bell (45) put up much resistance for Town as they were bowled out for 141.

This was in reply to Wallingford's 167 all out, of which Rob Sessions top-scored with 64, while Glenn Dickinson took 5-42.

Wolverton Town 2nd 7, Wallingford 25.

Abingdon 4th's hopes of the Division 9A title were ended when their lost by 130 runs to the new champions Oxford Downs 3rd.

Oxfordshire Over 50s batsman Ian Caunce smashed 135 in Downs' 274-5, which also featured 69 from Martin Bibby.

Adam Shorten claimed 3-80 for Abingdon, who were all out for 140, despite Jordan Ford's 65.

Oxford 3rd 25, Abingdon 4th 4