Teenager Matt Taylor made a sensational entry into Minor Counites cricket with three wickets in the first two overs for Oxfordshire against Herefordshire at Colwall on Sunday.

But, Oxon, who twice built up apparent winning positions, were kicking themselves at the end after losing by just ten runs.

The 16-year-old left-arm seamer from Great Tew, had the hosts reeling at 22-3, when dismissing both openers and No 4 Chris Boroughs in his first two overs, at the end of which his figures were 3-9.

Steve Adshead, the former Gloucestershire batsman, led the Herefordshire recovery, hitting 79 off 99 balls as other Oxon bowlers were unable to keep up the pressure.

Taylor picked up another wicket in his second spell to finish with 4-48, but a final flourish of 48 from 42 balls by Ed Baylis took them to 256-7.

This total seemed inadquate following spectacular second-wicket stand 105 in 14 overs between the Banbury duo of Nathan Hawkes and Craig Haupt.

But with the score at 130-1 in the 20th over, Hawkes slipped going for a single and was run out for 82, which came off 69 balls and included 11 fours and three sixes.

Haupt departed shortly afterwards for 52 off 63 balls..

Oxon’s long-tail – in the absence of Matt Taylor’s elder brother Jack, who was playing for Gloucestershire in the Clydesdale Bank and the injured Daniel Rowe – was exposed.

However an aggressive 30 from Ashley Blanchard took Oxon to 230-6 with 11 overs left.

But then, with victory in sight, they lost three wickets in ten balls and the last wicket fell with the visitors still 11 short of their target.

The defeat was a big blow to Oxon hopes of reaching the knock-out stages, which were so high after the opening win against Dorset.