MINSTER Lovell closed the gap on the leaders after a three-wicket victory on the target score method at Charlbury in Division 1 of the OCA League on Saturday.

On another rain-affected day, Charlbury posted 187-9 in their 45 overs as Bimalka Liyanarachchi hit 45 not out and Brian Barrett took 4-25.

A rain break reduced Minster’s reply to a target score of 171 in 40 overs.

And, led by Jack Simpson (43no) and Elliot Graham (43), they reached the total with more than three overs to spare.

Chipping Norton fell to a 38-run defeat at home to Great Horwood.

Kumara Arachchige took 5-49 as Horwood posted 151-8, but it proved beyond Chippy, who were all out for 113.

In Division 2, Chadlington beat visitors Marsh Gibbon by four wickets to stay in the chasing pack.

Toby Strong took 3-24 and Danny Harding 3-43 to restrict Marsh to 161-7, Stuart Leonard hitting 73 not out.

Mark Lambert (59) and Freddie Magee (45) then saw Chadlington to 163-3.

Witney Swifts crashed to an eight-wicket defeat at home to Broughton & North Newington.

Stuart Morgan claimed 6-17 as the home side were shot out for 82, before Broughton eased home at 83-2, Olly Evans hitting 31.

In Division 3, leaders Eynsham cruised to an eight-wicket win at Tetsworth.

Umair Ghazali took 4-31 and Dave Harris 3-36 to help to dismiss Tetsworth for 133, before Rob Coe (50no) and Sam Jones (43no) led Eynsham to 135-2.

Stanton Harcourt fell to a 43-run defeat at home to Westcott, who started the match with only seven men.

With most of the team stuck in traffic, the umpires deducted the visitors seven overs, and began the game still four players short.

They grafted to 114-9, but got their act together with the ball.

Alimar Khan took 5-11 to skittle Stanton for just 71, who at one stage were 13-7.

Kidlington edged past hosts Hanborough by one wicket on the target score method.

Hanborough set 174-9, with Steve Litten taking 4-40 for the visitors.

Kidlington’s revised target was 165 off 38 overs, and, thanks to Dan Farrant (50no), they edged to 166-9.

The target score method also decided the outcome at Kilkenny, who won by nine runs against Fringford.

Chris May (67) and Daniel Floyd (53no) helped the Carterton side to 2016-6.

Fringford were set a revised target of 145 from 27 overs, but they managed only 136-6 as Darren Gordon took 4-24.

Division 4 leaders Swinbrook ran out 34-run victors at Deddington to stay top.

They had posted 145-8 on a difficult surface, but then restricted their hosts to 111-9 as Mark Reed took 3-15.

Risinghurst kept up the pressure after a six-wicket win away to Hailey.

Ramu Vellayappan top-scored with 43 in Risinghurst’s 127-4 as they chased down Hailey’s 126 all out.

CHARLBURY 2nd’s Charlie Sinton had a day to remember as he hit an unbeaten century and took five wickets in his side’s 137-run mauling of visitors West Witney in Division 5 of the OCA League.

Sinton hammered 110 not out in Charlbury’s daunting 255-5, before taking centre stage with ball in hand, returning 5-21 to dismiss West Witney for 118.

Bampton’s perfect record remains after they beat visit- ors Garsington by 83 runs.

James Bray (74) allowed Bampton to set 179-6, before Garsington were bowled out for just 96.

In Division 7, Ducklington comprehensively outplayed visitors Uffington 2nd.

Ducklington posted 236-6 with knocks from Jacob Hughes (43), Stuart Weston (39no) and Kane Lewis (36).

Uffington were no match for Ducklington’s Hughes (6-27) and Lewis (4-10) as they were shot out for 46.

Stonesfield 2nd beat visitors Witney Swifts 2nd by two wickets on the target score method.

Swifts were all out for 147, Steve Smith hitting 51.

Set a revised target of 134 from 36 overs, Stonesfield won with five balls to spare.