Sandford St Martin got back to winning ways to re-ignite their Cherwell League Division 2 promotion challenge with a five-wicket victory at Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts on Saturday.

The hosts elected to bat after winning the toss, but got off to the worst possible start as Tim Rattigan fell for a duck in the first over.

Aadam Samiullah and Pablo Mukherjee then shared 38 for the second wicket, Samiullah going on to top score with 54 from 113 balls.

But after a 71-run stand between Samiullah and Atif Ali, wickets fell at regular intervals with Chris Thompson taking 4-41 and Jim Howe 3-51.

Nondies were all out for 193.

Sandford lost Ian Reynolds early on, but partnerships of 49 between Martin Anson and Charlie Beeson and then 104 between Beeson and Scott Reynolds broke the back of the run chase.

Beeson hit 70 from 127 balls, while Reynolds struck a rapid 50 in 68 balls including nine fours and a six as Sandford eased home with more than four overs to spare.

Oxford Downs lost by four wickets at leaders Horspath.

George Sandbach (69) and Tom Costley (57) helped Downs to 214- 9 in their 53 overs, Mark Skelton with 5-40.

Joe Todd top-scored with 76, while Skelton made 45 not out to lead his side home at 215-6.

Oxford Downs 2nd were crushed by ten wickets at home to Cropredy, who march on at the top of Division 3.

Downs opted to bat, but were soon deep in trouble as Jacob Heath and Jake Walters bowled well in tandem.

Heath was the pick of the Cropredy bowlers, taking 5-12 from ten overs as Downs were shot out for 62.

The visitors wasted no time reaching 66 without loss inside 13 overs.

Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd fell to a 47-run defeat at Cublington after a magnificent 139 not out from Pip Webb for the home side.

Cublington rattled up 254-8, Matt Brown taking 4-55 for Shipton.

Brown hit 45 in Shipton’s reply of 207.

A half-century from Mike Dove was in vain for Witney Mills as they lost by six wickets at home to Brackley in Division 4.

Mills were all out for 171 as Keith Cartwright took 4-9 and Dove hit 52.

Michael Lowe (46) and Luke Stone (36) then led the way for Brackley as they made 174-4.

Ian Caunce made an unbeaten 153 for Oxford Downs 3rd in their Division 8 clash at home to Bletchley Town 2nd.

Caunce hit 20 fours and two sixes in his huge knock as Downs declared on 256-3.

Bletchley denied Downs victory as they crawled to 156-4 in 47 overs.

In Division 6, Tom Young’s 102 not out helped Great & Little Tew 3rd amass 306-6 against Horley 2nd.

Horley closed out for a draw at 225-8, despite 4-37 from Simon Priscott.