Sandford St Martin suffered a rude awakening as they lost by 42 runs against visitors Abingdon Vale on their return to Cherwell League Division 2 following a two-year absence.

Put into bat, Vale had posted 192 all out from 47.4 overs, with Jonathan Cummings hitting a characteristically rustic 66 and Amith Premkumar helping out with 34.

Tom Goffe took 5-20 in a late flurry.

The wickets fell quickly after the interval too, Joe Butcher taking 4-41 as they reduced Sandford to 41-6, and although Goffe hit 50 he only delayed the inevitable as they fell well short on 150.

Great & Little Tew 2nd got their campaign off to the perfect start with a big home win against Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts.

Lawrence Brock took 3-40 as Nondies collapsed to 123 all out, before Jack Haggett hit 43 not out in Tew’s 124-4.

Wes Morrick (74no), Tom Condon (47) and skipper Dominic Whatman (34) helped Aston Rowant 2nd recover from 140-7 to reach 207- 8 at home to Oxford Downs.

The visitors looked well placed on 57-2 with Will Watts (34) and Will Sensecall (31) together at the crease, but Tim Foster then took 4-35 as Downs crumbled to 99 all out.

Steve Bates hit 70 in vain as Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd were bowled out for 136 at Buckingham Town 2nd in Division 3.

Ben Laycock (3-24) took out the middle order, before Dominic Pritchard (3-6) blew away the tail.

Town’s victory was never in doubt as they steadily compiled 138-3 from 38.4 overs.

Steve Roberts captured 4-26 from 17 miserly overs as Oxford Downs 2nd dismissed Banbury 3rd for only 103.

Downs were wobbling at 27-3 in reply, but captain Jack Soppett (48no) seized the initiative and took his side to 104-3 in the 40th over.

In Division 4, Dan Swindells (61) and Pete Claridge (40) set up Witney Mills for a big score against Kimble, but were let down by their teammates who slumped from 127-2 to 170-8.

Phil Semmens (4-35) was behind the comeback.

A 116-run third wicket partnership between Ben Mooney (75) and Jordan McRae (59no) set up the visitors victory, secured at 171-5.