LIAM Manley took 7-31 as Great & Little Tew hammered Leighton Buzzard Town to put the Cherwell League Division 1 title race back in the balance.

With leaders Horspath defeated by the weather, Tew capitalised by racing to a ten-wicket win by mid-afternoon.

Manley’s magnificent spell sent Town tumbling to 59 all out, which the visitors passed without loss in only 9.2 overs.

  • Leighton Buzzard Town 0pts, Great & Little Tew 25

Horspath’s lead is down to 21 points after their match at Great Brickhill was cut short.

The game was evenly poised with the hosts on 126-4 from 31 overs when no further play was possible.

Pat Foster had taken 3-62 and Graeme Carter was 45 not out at the premature close.

  •  Great Brickhill 6, Horspath 6

Oxford Downs’ slim title chances look dead and buried after they picked up only six points from their rain-affected draw at Buckingham Town .

Simon Myatt hit an unbeaten 64 in Town’s 192-8, while Harry Sutton (4-60) and Amin Rafiq (3-53) both enjoyed success with the ball.

The home side’s innings was reduced to 47 overs and the visitors’ to only 36, making a successful run chase unlikely.

Kevin Clark took 5-29 to tighten the home side’s grip, but Will Watts (62no) steered Downs to 160-7.

  • Buckingham Tn 17, Oxford Downs 6

Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts remain rooted in the bottom two after suffering a heavy defeat at Cumnor .

Carl Thompson took 3-32 as Nondies were rolled over for 137 inside 42 overs. Only Ayaz Khan (34), playing against his former club, put up much of a fight.

Cumnor were never in trouble after tea, as Miles Hammond (59no) and Ali Morteza (58) steered their side to 138-2.

  • Cumnor 25, Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 4

Banbury 2nd took a massive stride towards safety after beating basement boys Bletchley Town by five wickets at White Post Road.

The visitors were restricted to 136-9 from 48 overs as Olly Wright (5-65) and Paul Hill (3-38) dominated the batsmen.

Anish Desai (60) and Andrew Sabin (30) then took Banbury to 137-5 from 35 overs and so open up a 26-point cushion over Nondies at the bottom.

  • Banbury 2nd 25, Bletchley Town 7