CRICKET: Sandford closing in

5:00pm Monday 18th August 2008

Sandford St Martin all but guaranteed promotion from Division 3 by avoiding defeat at Morris Motors Exiles.

On a damp Wheatley track, Nitin Sehgal hit a fine 105 and Ali Shah 45 in Exiles' 206-9 declared, adding 123 for the second wicket before David Lowery (4-60) and Simon Smith (3-57) got going.

Jehan Mohammed (3-44) had Sandford in early trouble before the visitors batted out for a draw on 177-6, Mark Robey finishing unbeaten on 31.

Morris Motors Exiles 13pts, Sandford St Martin 9

All-rounder Richard Tilley hit an unbeaten 75 and Andy Claridge 37 not out to elevate Witney Mills' innings from a modest effort to a competitive 190-7 at home to Kingston Bagpuize.

Dave Pearce took 3-53 and Tom Scrase jnr 3-59 for the Baggies, then Tom Scrase snr hit an unbeaten 54 to give his side hope.

But Steve Kelly bowled a miserly spell to finish with figures of 4-29 and leave Kingston on 154-8.

Witney Mills 14, Kingston Bagpuize 8

A woeful batting performance by bottom club Cumnor 2nd saw them bowled out for 73 and return home from Hanborough without a single point.

Joe Cockcroft was the home side's hero, taking 5-24 in a 16 over spell.

Michael Dove then hit 42 not out as Hanborough cruised to a ten-wicket win to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Hanborough 25, Cumnor 2nd 0

Cropredy's batsmen endured a similarly bad day at home to promotion chasing Wolverton Town as they were all out for 78.

Andy Amos, Jamil Raja and Hakim Khan each took three wickets for Town, who had earlier scored 234-4 from their 52 overs.

Michael Baker top scored with 90, which Bob Ford hit 72 and Jek Yeo 34.

Cropredy 1, Wolverton Town 25

Bledlow Village still harbour hopes of going up after they saw off Dinton 2nd by six wickets.

James Bacon hit an unbeaten 80 and Adam Mould 69 as Bledlow lost just four wickets in chasing down Dinton's 186 all out.

In Dinton's innings, Ali Khan hit 92, while Ryan Chapman took 5-38.

Dinton 2nd 7, Bledlow Village 25

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