Minor Counties Championship

Lloyd Sabin hit a determined unbeaten century on his home Banbury ground as Oxfordshire fought back on day two of their Western Division clash against Shropshire.

The 19-year-old opener was unbeaten on 117 at the close with Oxon 269-5 in their second innings – a lead of 111 after Shropshire had been bowled out for 384 in reply to the hosts’ first knock of 226.

Sabin’s runs came off 232 balls and included 15 fours and three sixes, to give the hosts a fighting chance of posting a challenging target.

He showed great patience at the start of the innings, before picking up the tempo, especially with boundaries straight down the ground.

He had a new opening partner with Damian Shirazi switching spots with Richard Kaufman.

The pair put on 37 for the first wicket, before the Aston Rowant left-hander was bowled by Jonathan Miles for 23, having survived a chance eight runs earlier.

Kaufman joined Sabin in a stand of 121 for the second wicket.

The former had a let-off just before tea when Elliott Green dropped an easy chance at point off Shropshire skipper Richard Oliver when he had made 49.

But Oliver got his man soon after the break when Kaufman hit a delivery straight to Ben Sanderson in the covers to depart for 57 off 84 balls with ten fours.

Jamie Perkin was then bowled by Oliver for a duck two runs later, making it 160-3.

But Jonny Cater helped see Sabin through to his second Championship century, before the opener survived a difficult chance at square leg when he’d made 103.

It became 233-4 when Cater picked out James Ralph in the covers off Dan Bowen’s bowling for a fluent 38.

Michael Beard then went cheaply as Ralph pouched a second catch with Green this time the beneficary.

But Sabin and David Smith ensured their was no further loss to keep Oxon in the game.

Earlier, Shropshire had resumed on a blistering 250-5 off 37.5 overs, and Ralph, who was unbeaten on 77 over-night, went on to complete his seventh Champhionship century.

Tom Home added 70 with him before he was bowled by Matt Woods.

Two runs later, Ralph’s superb innings came to an end when he was caught by Kaufman at slip off Francois Vainker’s left-arm spin.

He had made 124 off 128 balls with 21 fours.

Woods knocked back Jonathan Miles’s stumps, but Anthony Parker took the attack to Oxfordshire.

Vainker caught and bowled Ben Sanderson, before Parker, whose 51 came off 39 balls with three fours and three sixes, was trapped lbw by Chad Keegan, who finished with 4-80.

Scores: Oxfordshire 226 & 269-5 (L Sabin 117no, R Kaufman 57), Shropshire 384 (J Ralph 124, R Foster 82, A Parker 51).