Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts’ slipped to fifth in MP Sports Cherwell League Division 1 as they went down to a six-wicket defeat at home to Cumnor who took over at the top as a result.

The home side decided to bat and made steady progress through Shabaz Alam, playing against his former club, until he foolishly decided to take on Carl Thompson’s arm and was run out.

The loss of three wickets with the score on 124 also ser-ved to slow the scoring rate before some late pyrotechnics from another former Cumnor man, Ayaz Khan, saw Nondies to 184.

Despite losing a wicket with the score on seven, a partnership of 159 for the second wicket between skipper Sam Jones and opener Matt Lake all but secured the win.

Nondies’ cause was not helped when opening bowler Zia Hamed could not complete his eighth over due to injury.

And although Jones holed out one short of his century, Lake stayed to the end to see the job done.

The victory is Cumnor’s sixth in a row and takes them above Oxford Downs, who reeled off six straight wins themselves before losing at Cumnor last week and at home to Buckingham Town on Saturday.

Despite the defeat, Nondies stay in the top half and are acquitting themselves well after promotion last summer.

Cumnor are over-achieving under Jones’ captaincy, and are giving themselves the platform to clinch their first title come September.

Ox & Bletch Nondies 7pts, Cumnor 25