CRICKET: Vale stay on track

6:49pm Tuesday 26th August 2008

Abingdon Vale kept their Division 2 promotion challenge on the boil by beating lowly Leighton Buzzard Town.

The in-form Danny Hartley took 4-32, while veteran Robin Newman rolled back the years to take 4-48 as Town were dismissed for 115, of which Antony Francis scored 33.

Lee Selfe then took 3-48 for the home side, but Vale skipper Ed Tilley led from the front with a fine unbeaten 64 to take the visitors to 118-4.

Abingdon have their destiny in their own hands as they face leaders Dinton this weekend and second placed Milton Keynes Park in the final round of fixtures.

Leighton Buzzard Town 5pts, Abingdon Vale 25

Tiddington need to follow Abingdon's lead and beat Leighton Buzzard next week after their four-wicket defeat to Long Marston left them in the drop zone.

Nick Pykett hit 105 and Riaan Krynauw 43 as Tiddington posted a respectable 226 all out after being put in to bat.

Lee Beesley took 4-54 for Marston, who paced their reply well to reach 227-6 in the 49th over, Martin Wright hitting 91 and Mark Green 79.

Tiddington 10, Long Marston 25

Challow & Childrey are still very much in the promotion shake-up after they easily beat Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts.

Mark Strong's unbeaten 39 was the only notable contribution in Nondies' 130 all out, which Challow passed with ease thanks to Nick Meadows's composed 47 not out.

Challow now face Long Marston and Tiddington over the next two weeks.

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 4, Challow & Childrey 25

Dinton stayed top by one point thanks to a comfortable home win over Bledlow Ridge.

Martin Middleton (50) and Paul Brzezicki (46) helped Ridge post 198 all out, as Neil Spicer (5-51) and Richard Scott (3-60) enjoyed success with the ball.

Michael Sutliff then hit 81, Ashley Smith 42 and Spicer an unbeaten 43 as the home side cruised to 201-4.

Dinton 25, Bledlow Ridge 8

Bourton Vale were reduced to 39-6 at Milton Keynes Park before Ed Shaw led a recovery that saw his side reach 159.

Ghufran Mohammed (5-42) and Graham Simpson (3-36) did most of the damage for Park, who knocked off the required runs inside 43 overs, James Sprittles top-scoring with 53 not out.

Milton Keynes Park 25, Bourton Vale 5

Editor's choice