Oxford Downs threw away a winning position in losing by 11 runs at home to Buckingham Town in Cherwell League Division 1 on Saturday.

The visitors’ flying start saw them blast 22-0 from two overs, but that soon became 29-4 and then 61-6 in the 26th.

Amin Rafiq finished with 3-35 and Tom Costley with 3-42, but Ben Stafford’s patient 35 was to prove invaluable as Town closed on 139-9.

Downs looked like sailing to victory when Wasim Meh-mood (36) helped bring up the 50 for the loss of only one wicket, before they slumped to 80-6.

Skipper Will Watts’s 33 was in vain as Jack Parish (4-27) wrapped up the tail.

Oxford Downs 5pts, Buckingham Town 25

Veteran Steve Roberts (4-14) and under 15 Tom Ding-wall (3-43) proved to be the perfect blend as Oxford Downs 2nd dismissed local rivals Sandford St Martin for 138.

Mark Robey (55) was the mainstay of Sandford’s innings in the only Division 3 match to survive the weather.

Downs did not have the best of starts, but Ian Caunce (43no) and Will Hook (32no) got the reply back on track to steer the visitors to 139-4.

Sandford St Martin 6, Oxford Downs 2nd 25

The fixtures between Great & Little Tew 2nd and Buck-ingham Town as well as Shipton 2nd’s game at Didcot did not start.

The teams were awarded six points each.

Sam Haslegrove helped himself to 4-25 and Olly Burnley took 4-27 as Witney Mills reduced Kimble to 96 all out in Division 4.

Mills made light work of reaching 100-4.

Kimble 4, Witney Mills 25

A fine 78 from Robbie Catling was in vain for Great & Little Tew 3rd as they lost by 32 runs against Long Marston 2nd in Division 6.

Chris Hickman took 4-39 and Robby Taylor 3-36 as Marston were restricted to 204-8.

However, they were bowled out for 172, despite the heroics of Catling.

Gt & Little Tew 3rd 6, Long Marston 25

Witney Mills 2nd romped to a 96-run victory over Stokenchurch 2nd in Division 9, thanks to two spar-kling individual displays.

First, Mike Williams led them to 223-5 with 94, and then Anand Srinivasarag-havan returned stunning figures of 6-21 to send Stoken-church packing for 127.

Witney Mills 2nd 25, Stokenchurch 2nd 3