OXFORDSHIRE are in good shape to qualify for the knockout stages of the ECB 38 County Competition after beating Staffordshire at Aston Rowant yesterday.

Their eight-run victory over last season's Minor Counties Championship winners leaves them with two wins from two matches.

Oxon, who lost in the semi-finals of the competition last season, travel to Nottinghamshire next on Sunday, June 6. They then face a potential group decider away to Leicestershire, who have won both of their games, on June 27.

Chasing Oxon's total of 182 all out from 48.5 overs, Staffs were soon reeling at 27-3.

First, Keith Arnold, playing in his first county game of the season, removed Staffs skipper Steve Dean in the first over.

Then, Rover Cowley all-rounder Stewart Laudat bowled former Kent and Leicestershire star Laurie Potter, before Shahbaz Ali dismissed John Gray with a piece of opportunistic fielding.

The Banbury man threw down the stumps from square leg as Gray ambled absent-mindedly back to his crease after Peter Wellings had turned down an attempted quick single. At 62-4 from 25 overs, the visitors were in with a chance. And a fifth-wicket stand of 46 between Paul Shaw and Richard Harvey swung the initiative their way.

However, catches in the deep by Oxford's Ben Thompson and Challow's Charlie Knightley off Bicester spinner Paul Jeacock broke that partnership and put Oxfordshire back on top. And when Shahbaz Ali bowled Mark Humphries in his first over, Staffs looked out of it at 122-7.

But David Boden and Dave Womble took them to within sight of victory before Arnold came back to shatter Womble's stumps.

The match then ended in controversy.

The score was 174-8 when, from the last ball of the 48th over, spinner Ian Curtis bowled a chest-high full toss - technically a no ball - which Boden slashed straight into Arnold's hands at extra cover. Boden protested to both umpires, but to no avail as neither signalled the no-ball.

From the very next delivery, Denton Brock spooned Arnold to Rob Williams at cover and the game was over. Earlier, Oxon had made a breezy start to their innings.

Bicester wicket-keeper Ian Hawtin, restored to the opening role he performed so successfully last season, made a fluent 33.

After 20 overs, Oxon were 79-1.

However, as has been the case in almost every game the county have played this year, the runs dried up in the middle overs.

Admittedly, Staffordshire's spinners bowled tightly, but there can be no excuse for scoring just 19 runs between the 20th and 30th overs.

Oxon lost their last six wickets for just eight runs. Seamer Boden claimed a hat-trick, his three sheepish victims being Arnold, Arwyn Jones and Jeacock.

Story date: Monday 24 May

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