Shipton-under-Wychwood’s winning streak came to an abrupt end as they went down to an eight-wicket defeat at slick leaders Horspath in Cherwell League Division 1 on Saturday.
The visitors came into the game on the back of three wins on the bounce, but within 45 minutes had been reduced to 32-6 and the game was over.
Will Eason (5-22) was responsible for the carnage, taking five of the first six wickets to fall in a devastating opening burst.
Shipton’s scorecard looked like it had been printed upside down, as the tail then dug in to get their side into three figures.
The ninth wicket partnership of 36 between Paul Jennings (20) and Sasha Barras (36) was the highest of the innings, and the last two wickets added 53.
Horspath then batted as if they had a train to catch, with Jason Hunt the only bowler to restrict the scoring.
Jimmy Phillips plundered 47, while Eason hit 45 not out to complete a good day for himself and his side.
Oxford Downs are back in the relegation mire after losing at Buckingham Town and slipping to the bottom of the Division 1 table.
They were soon in trouble against Simon Myatt (3-30) after being put into bat, but recovered from 66-6 in the 19th over to reach 217-9.
James Ellwood led the way with an invaluable 98.
Town scored at five runs an over after the interval and despite losing wickets at regular intervals reached 220-7 in the 44th over.
Opener Rob Large (36), then Callum Price (41) and finally Ben Laycock (46no) saw them over the line.
Meanwhile, Oxford Downs 2nd’s Division 3 promotion bid suffered a blow as they slipped to defeat against Cublington.
Downs were shot out for 104, with Kieron Sear taking 3-13 as only Simon Launder (40) put up much resistance.
The visitors eased to 107-3 in the 21st over.
Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd failed to cope with the menace of bowler Lloyd Belcher as they lost by eight wickets at home to Horspath 2nd.
Belcher took 7-44 as Shipton were dismissed for 151, David Bugge top-scoring with 36.
Horspath cruised to 155-2 inside 40 overs, with Steve Green (73no) and Chris Jones (34no) enjoying an unbroken third wicket partnership.
Sandford St Martin went down to a 108-run defeat at Dinton 2nd.
Fred Cripps crashed 103 as Dinton 2nd declared at 230-8 from 51 overs.
It always looked a tall order and Sandford were 122 all out, Faisal Ali claiming four wickets.
Deadly duo Michael Darby and Lawrence Brock did the damage as Great & Little Tew 2nd saw off Horley by 124 runs in Division 4.
Darby took 6-28 and Brock captured 4-16 as Horley were rolled over for 105.
Only Steve Palmer (40) was around for long in an innings that spanned only 20.5 overs.
Tew had posted 229-9 through Kevin Taylor (53), Marcus Jeacock (42) and Josh Garrett (32), while Pete Papenfus picked up 4-42.
Shipton-under-Wychwood 3rd slipped to a 79-run defeat against Didcot 3rd in Division 8.
Didcot’s Karl Johnston hit a club record 118 to help to 241 all out from their 42 overs.
Shipton couldn’t match them, struggling to 162 after being bowled out in 37.4 overs, with Ali Wolfe’s 33 their top scorer.
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