CHALLOW & Childrey extended their lead at the top of Cherwell League Division 2 after they edged to a thrilling one-wicket victory at home to Sandford St Martin on Saturday.

In a rain-affected match, Challow were thankful to last pair Luke Cheshire and Ross Packham, who held their nerve to scramble them over the line.

Sandford were indebted to a 53-run stand between Kris Jones (58) and Jim Howe (35no), but after Jones’s dismissal, wickets fell regularly, with Packham taking 3-24 from eight overs as Sandford finished on 179-9 from their 47 overs.

Opener John Pechey top-scored for Challow with 52, while Patrick Bryan chipped in with 38.

Tom Goffe claimed 3-39 to keep his side in the game, but the young last pair of Packham and Cheshire knocked off the final seven runs to secure the narrowest of victories.

Joe Butcher grabbed super figures of 7-51 as Abingdon Vale beat Oxford 2nd.

Graham Charlesworth scored 53 not out and Henry Pickford 40 to help Vale to 195 all out having been 81-8, Richard Musk taking 5-35.

Oxford were never in the hunt as Butcher ripped through their ten men, one player being absent after being questioned by the police.

Elliot Matthews starred as Didcot helped his side to a resounding 127-run victory at Tiddington 2nd in Division 3.

Matthews top-scored with 83 as Didcot racked up 218.

Tiddington were then tumbled out for just 91 as Matthews took 3-4, Robert Keat 3-20 and Aiden Kammel 3-31.

Blewbury & Wallingford fell to a 58-run defeat at home to Cublington.

Kit Gordon-Stewart hit 103 in Cublington’s 194 all out. Ollie Fairhurst then claimed 5-55 as Blewbury fell for 136.

Kingston Bagpuize lost eight runs to Horspath 2nd in Division 5.

Horspath were all out for 185 as Stuart Berry top-scored with 95, while Jamie Cox took 5-40 for the home side.

George Woodley’s maiden league half-century (54) got Kingston within touching distance of victory, but Tom Smith (3-28) and Berry (3-31) condemned them to 177 all out after 49 overs.

There was another tight finish as Abingdon Vale 2nd lost by three wickets away to Cumnor 2nd.

Pierre Du Plessis claimed 5-47 to help bowl Vale out for just 121.

George Glew then hit 55 not out to steer Cumnor to 122-7, Matt Butcher taking 4-42.

Didcot 2nd’s last pair frustrated Bledlow Ridge as they clung on for a draw.

Phillip Brooks (90) and Simon Lloyd (78) helped visitors Bledlow to 284-4 declared in 52 overs.

Ross Fryatt (71) and Sean Winton (55no) shone for Didcot, but it was down to last pair Sean Winton and Kane Durrant to deny Ridge maximum points as they closed on 245-9.