Richard Beer bagged season’s best figures of 5-65 as Oxford Downs held Cherwell League Division 1 leaders Horspath to a draw on Saturday.

His display helped restrict the visitors to 213-8 from their 53 overs.

Half-centuries from Robbie Eason (56) and Jimmy Phillips (51) provided half the runs, while the home side’s slow over rate was to cost them two points.

Andrew Buckingham then hit a composed 60 as Downs reached 183-7, despite Lee Mason’s 3-44.

Oxford Downs 5pts, Horspath 16 Shipton-under-Wychwood continued their rapid rise by thrashing Twyford.

The home side’s batsmen failed yet again, as they succumbed for only 142. Jason Hunt (5-43) and Shaun Miller (3-55) sharing the spoils.

The loss of three early wickets only held up Shipton briefly as Craig Wood (38no) and George Seacole (35no) saw them to 143-8 in 33.1 overs.

Twyford 5, Shipton 25 Division 3 morning leaders Oxford Downs 2nd dropped to fourth after being held to a draw at Horspath 2nd.

The hosts made 212-9 thanks to Andy Cummings (35no), Ben Henderson (35) and Graham Beer (34), with Steve Roberts taking 4-47.

Andy Smith (40) top-scored for Downs, but they fell short on 178-9.

Horspath 2nd 19, Oxford Downs 2nd 7 Sandford St Martin failed to copewith batsman Steve Moss in a 52-run defeat at Long Marston.

He hit 131 – the highest score in the division this summer – as the hosts reached 239-9.

Simon Smith (5-56) was the only Sandford St Martin bowler to exercise much control.

Jim Howe (36), Jon Best (34) and Mark Robey (32) all put up a fight, but Adam Wells took 4-65 and Moss 3-31 as the visitors were out for 187.

Sandford St Martin 7 Long Marston 25 Anthony Prior-Wandesforde took 4-36 as Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd dismissed struggling Bicester & North Oxford for 161.

Chris Panter (50no) and Russell Haynes (49) starred in Shipton’s 225-7.

Shipton 2nd 25, Bicester & North Oxford 6 Witney Mills found David Slade too hot to handle as they lost at home to Didcot.

Pete Claridge made 50, but most Mills batsmen struggled in their 152-9, with Slade taking 5-46.

Simon Pritchard (66) and Henry Brisland (42no) then showed the hosts how to bat as Didcot raced to 155-1 in only 28.1 overs.

Witney Mills 3, Didcot 25 Great & Little Tew 2nd are up to second after winning at Wallingford.

Mark Carey (51), Will Emmett (42) and Warren Ainsworth (39) helped the home side reach 195 all out.

Kevin Taylor (3-52) was the pick of the visitors’ attack.

Tew then made their way to 196-5 through Marcus Jeacock (56), Michael Darby (50) and Sam Barnes (37no).

Gt & L Tew 2nd 25, Wallingford 9 Great & Little Tew 3rd lost by 80 runs at home to East Oxford 2nd in Division 7.

The visitors amassed a formidable 241, with Muzammil Rehman scoring 77 as Tew struggled in the field.

Despite Dave Freeman’s 34, Tew were bowled out for 161, Zahid Ali capturing 5-45.

Matt Hemming took 4-19 as Shipton-under-Wychwood 3rd bowled out Thame Town 3rd for 38 in Division 8.

Shipton wasted little time in easing to a ten-wicket success.

Gary Brock returned impressive figures of 7-29 for Great & Little Tew 4th in his side’s Division 9 game at Horspath 4th.

But his efforts were only enough to help secure a draw, Tew managing 177-7 in reply to the hosts’ 232.

Ian Belcher hit 104 for Horspath.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 4th ensure a 100-point weekend for the club with a six-wicket win over Bicester & North Oxford 3rd in their Division 10 game.

Simon Dickens took 5-31 as Bicester were restricted to 70-9, Shipton easily getting to 72-4.