Wes Bartlett hit a big unbeaten century to improve Oxford Downs’ hopes of escaping the drop from Cherwell League Division 1 with a draw at home to Twyford, though they remain in danger of the drop.

Bartlett (pictured) hit an impressive 137 not out as Downs declared two overs early on 249-3, their highest score of the summer.

Amin Rafiq (4-43) and Lester Smart (4-52) looked like bowling their side to victory after the interval, but Rory Lyon hit 47 and the visitors hung on at 207-9.

Oxford Downs 19pts, Twyford 5 Shipton-under-Wychwood are now the only team with a slim chance of catching Horspath after they kept up their good run by squeezing past Oxford 2nd.

Sasha Barrass bagged 4-61 and Charlie Brain collected 3-33 as Oxford were bowled out for 216. Jon Barrett (87) and Luke Finch (48) supplied the majority of the runs.

Jason Hunt’s cultured 79 set up the chase, while Simon Hole and Craig Wood both hit 34. But wickets fell to Aussie left-armer Adam Price (3-77) and Shipton only just made it to 220-8 with seven balls to spare.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 25, Oxford 2nd 12 Oxford Downs 2nd promotion hopes suffered a blow at Bledlow Ridge in Division 3.

Johnny Law took 7-66 for Downs, but Ridge totalled 237 all out.

Geoff Tombs (59), Steve Bird (44), Martin Middleton (39) and Dan Maunder (39) were in the runs.

Nick Rivett’s 33 was the only highlight in Downs’ reply as they fell to 116 all out, Ben Keeping taking 4-51.

Bledlow Ridge 25, Oxford Downs 2nd 6 Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd stayed in trouble after losing to leaders Long Marston.

Marston declared three overs early on 224-7 after Stephen Moss made 50 and James Cockbain 42.

Les Hole (4-55) was the pick of the visiting attack.

Shipton then became the fifth team to be dismissed for less than 100 by Long Marston this summer, as James Beesley (5-14) and Pete Toovey (4-53) bowled them out for 99.

Long Marston 25, Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd 3 Sandford St Martin slumped to 74 all out at Banbury 3rd, as Ollie Murrey (4-27), Saim Hussain (3-7) and Ross Freeman (3-31) ran riot.

The hosts lost only one wicket and used just 12 overs in reaching their target.

Banbury 3rd 25, Sandford St Martin 1 Great & Little Tew 2nd can secure promotion to Division 3 by beating nearest rivals Buckingham Town 2nd this Saturday after matching Didcot’s feat of winning seven in a row.

Michael Darby (4-23) and Josh Megson (3-21) sent Witney Mills to 78 all out.

Markus Jeacock then hit an unbeaten 50 in Tew’s 79-0, which came from 16.2 overs.

Great & Little Tew 2nd 25, Witney Mills 0 In Division 7, Great & Little Tew thrashed Oxford Downs by ten wickets as Sam Barnes and Tom White put on an unbeaten 60 and 58, to meet Oxford’s target of 125.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 4th’s top-of-the-table clash in Division 10 with Long Marston 3rd ended in a draw.

Shipton posted 176-8, but Marston held on for a draw at 163-7.