Great & Little Tew’s Division 2 title bid suffered a dent as they were held to a draw after Datchet’s tailenders held on to deny them victory in Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League at the Wally Gage Memorial Ground on Saturday.

The result saw Tew’s lead at the top cut to 46 points after second-placed Gerrards Cross won at home to Amersham by 135 runs.

Martin Coetzee top-scored with a quickfire 40 off 41 balls as Tew were skittled for 185.

Sam Finn (4-28) and Gareth Harte (3-53) did most of the damage for the hosts.

Robbie Shurmer (4-34) and Matthew Woods (3-56) struck as Datchet fell to 102-8.

However, with victory in their sights Tew were forced to settle for a draw.

Ninth man Thomas Jones led the way for the hosts, hitting 47 runs off 87 balls.

And after Finn was bowled by Joe White for six, last man Alex Bartlett defended astutely, withstanding 32 balls for just four runs as Datchet held Tew to a frustrating draw.

On Saturday, Tew entertain Amersham.

Datchet 9pts, Great Tew 14

Shipton-under-Wychwood fell to a shock eight-wicket defeat at home to Oxfordshire rivals Aston Rowant.

Although Rowant remain second from bottom, they are now only nine points behind Shipton who slipped from second to fifth.

All-rounder Wes Morrick returned figures of 4-40, including two wickets in his first two overs, as Shipton’s batting woes continued in their 128 all out.

Rowant lost two wickets as they chased down their hosts in 26 overs.

Andrew Tolson (69) and Daniel Matthews (39) put on a second-wicket stand of 95 to help them seal victory.

Captain Josh Smith’s decision to put Shipton into bat immediately paid dividends as Morrick dismissed Charles Brain and Calvin Dickinson for ducks to leave the hosts in trouble at 4-2.

Leo Bethell trapped Andrew Hemming leg before as Shipton collapsed to 23-3 and despite the best efforts of the middle order to stabilise the ship they found themselves at 105-7.

Captain Simon Hole carried his bat on 20, but the last three wickets fell for 23 runs.

Shipton started well with the ball as Anupam Sanklecha bowled Rowant opener Damian Shirazi for nine, but they were unable to build upon the early wicket.

Tolson and Matthews put on a stand of 95 to all but steer Shipton home.

And Smith joined Tolson at the crease to help his side to victory and maintain their unbeaten run under the timed format, which stretches back to five weeks.

This weekend, Shipton face a trip to Cove.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 3, Aston Rowant 25