OXFORD Downs edged a thrilling Cherwell League Division 1 clash against Abingdon Vale by one wicket with three balls to spare to keep alive their outside title hopes.

Downs made early inroads before a 53-run stand for the third wicket between Adam Scholey and Amith Premkumar (33) got Vale back on track.

But when they both fell, quickly followed by Arthur Jones, Vale were firmly on the back foot at 92-5.

They never really recovered, and were all out for 161. Will Watts (3-33) and Tom Costley (3-35) were the pick of the Downs bowlers.

Frankie Crouch and youngster Freddie Smith shared 38 for the first wicket in Downs’ reply, before Vale began chipping away.

At 109-7, after the dismissals of Costley and Wasim Mehmood, the game was in the balance with Downs needing 52 with three wickets left.

However, Amin Rafiq’s resolute 42 proved crucial, before last pair Jonny Law and Harry Sutton hit the runs needed in the final over to secure the narrowest of wins.

Great & Little Tew 2nd found Division 2 leaders Bledlow Village far too strong as they raced to a seven-wicket win.

James Hawkes (4-28) and Matthew Pearce (3-25) blew Tew away for 89, and then Will Woodward struck 46 not out to lead Bledlow home at 90-3 in the 14th over.

A six-wicket haul from Tom Goffe was in vain for Sandford St Martin, who fell to a 21-run defeat against Leighton Buzzard Town.

Despite Goffe’s 6-38, Buzzard reached 242 all out, Antony Francis hitting 88 and Lee Selfe 72.

Steve Dobson (42) and Goffe (30) led in Sandford’s reply, but they were all out for 221.

Oxford Downs 2nd fell to a three-wicket defeat at Wolverton Town in Division 3.

Jack Soppett top-scored with 48 as Downs posted a below-par 149-9.

Charan Chahal then took 5-41 in Wolverton’s reply, but 46 not out from Chris King led Wolverton to 151-7 in the 41st over.

Minster Lovell were shot out for a paltry 81 as they slipped to their first Division 4 defeat – by ten runs at Brackley.

Minster had dismissed their hosts for just 91, as Leigh Smith took 3-17 and Eddie Dunn 3-24.

But Minster struggled against some excellent bowling as Josh Rowland, Rob Cartwright and Keith Cartwright took three wickets apiece.

Witney Mills lost by 29 runs to Thame 2nd, who were bowled out for 154.

Sam Haselgrove claimed 6-37 and Steve Kelly 4-40 for Mills.

Nicholas Anderson-Pearce struck 52 in Mills’s reply, but they were bowled out for 125, Matt Ridgway taking 4-30 and Alastair Thomas 4-34.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd were too strong for hosts Horspath 3rd, running out 52-run victors.

Paul Hemming returned superb figures of 6-32 and Rob Panting 4-55 as Horspath were all out for 145 chasing Shipton’s total of 197-8.

Minster Lovell 3rd crashed to 44 all out and a crushing 114-run defeat at Dinton 3rd in Division 10.

Dinton posted 158-7, before Minster succumbed to Hitesh Biyani (5-10) and Dominic O’Sullivan (4-30).