JOHNNY Law took an incredible nine wickets as Oxford Downs thrashed hosts Sandford St Martin by 223 runs to move up to second place in Cherwell League Division 2.

Downs declared on 291-8 in 48 overs as skipper Wasim Mehmood smashed a brilliant 112 and Chris Sandbach 76.

But it was Law who took centre stage with the ball.

Although Harry Sutton removed opener Chris Thompson for a duck, Law ran through the rest of the order, returning outstanding figures of 9-31 in 14.4 overs as Sandford were shot out in 28.4 overs for just 68.

Great & Little Tew 2nd went down to league leaders Challow & Childrey by six wickets.

Markus Jeacock top-scored for Tew with 80, but when he was stumped by Mark Foster off the bowling of Luke Cheshire, their luck ran out, as they finished on 217-8.

The home side eased to victory with seven overs to spare, with captain Ryan Gordon (50no), John Pechey (50) and Justin Penrose (41) all starring.

In Division 3, Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd had Tiddington 2nd clinging on for a draw as they failed to prise out the visitors’ last two wickets.

Batting first, Shipton rattled up 240-5, Russell Hayes top-scoring with 71 and Tim Senior hitting 52.

Jeff Higgs scored 75 in Tiddington’s reply, but they lost regular wickets to close on 194-8.

Oxford Downs 2nd had to settle for a draw with visitors Didcot.

Darryl Woods (56) and Wes Bartlett (55) helped Downs to 224-8 in their 53 overs, Jordan Morrison taking 3-53.

Simon Pritchard’s 65 was the main contribution in Didcot’s reply, but they closed on 196-9 as Jack Soppett took 3-61.

Five wicket hauls from Ollie Burney and Ben Madden helped Witney Mills to a six-wicket victory against visitors Dinton 2nd in Division 4.

Burney claimed 5-26 and Madden 5-39 to dismiss Dinton for just 118, before veteran Malcolm Evans hit 41 not out to lead Mills to 119-4.

In Division 6, Great & Little Tew 3rd were beaten by Cropredy 2nd by seven wickets as the hosts went top of the table.

Patrick Somerton took six wickets as Tew were shot out for 107 in the 41st over, Dave Freeman top-scoring with 33.

Tom Bunting then hit 50 not out to lead Cropredy to victory at 111-3.

Colin Simpton smashed an unbeaten 135 as Division 7 table-toppers Sandford St Martin 2nd beat hosts Wolverton 2nd by 95 runs.

Simpson’s fine knock allowed Sandford to declare on 228-4 and Wolverton fell to 133 all out in reply.

Great & Little Tew 4th went down by seven wickets at the hands of Cumnor 3rd in Division 8.

Tew were all out for 110 as Adam Jones (5-26) and Robert Shrimpton (3-30) shone for Cumnor, who then reached 114-3 as Thomas Harkness top-scored with 30.