Richard Beer was the toast of Oxford Downs, who edged closer to avoiding the drop from Division 1 after enjoying the better of a draw at local rivals Shipton-under-Wychwood.

Beer smashed 77 not out in Downs’ 223-8, which also included handy contributions from Darryl Woods (42) and Justin Cantrill (36).

Sasha Barras (4-79) and Shaun Miller (3-82) shared most of the bowling and all bar one of the wickets.

Jason Hunt (36) got Shipton’s reply off to a flier, and when he skied a catch in the 11th over they were 64-1 and set fair.

But Steve Roberts (4-59) and Beer (4-57) left Shipton scrapping for a draw on 193-9.

In Division 3, Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd rolled over Bledlow Ridge for only 78 in a ten-wicket victory.

Les Hole took 4-12 and Chris Panter picked up 3-16, before Tim Senior hit an unbeaten 43 in Ship-ton’s 79-0.

Greg Jenkins (4-34) and Andy Lane (4-35) restricted Sandford St Martin to 121-8 against Cublington.

Tom Goffe then took 3-30 but only delayed the inevitable as Daniel Catt (57no) and Pip Webb (31no) steered Cublington to 124-4 in the 24th over.

Pierre Lefort (5-50) and Steve Kelly (4-65) bowled Witney Mills into a strong position at Buckingham Town 2nd in Division 4.

The hosts were bowled out for 182, Andy Thatcher leading the way with 48.

Pete Claridge then hit 56 for Mills, but they were undone by the heroics of Dominic Prit-chard (7-55) and were all out for 167 off the penultimate ball of their final over.

Sandford St Martin 2nd were bowled out for just 72 as they went down to a six-wicket defeat against Bledlow Ridge 2nd in Division 6.

Bledlow then eased past the target, losing four wickets on the way.

In Division 7, Oxford Downs 3rd failed to cope with Kishan Dave as they went down to a 49-run defeat against Bicester & North Oxford 2nd.

Dave took 4-31 as Downs were dismissed for 143 as they fell short of Bicester’s 192-6. Joseph Holland bagged a five-wicket haul as Great & Little Tew 4th beat Brackley 2nd by three wickets.

He took 5-12 as Brackley were dismissed for 138.

Toby Parket hit 41 and Ralph Watts 31 as Tew got home for the loss of six wickets.