Oxfordshire under 17 boys produced an excellent bowling and fielding display to clinch a victory over Bedfordshire in their ECB County Cup match at Dunstable Town.

The result means that Oxon are one victory away from a place in the semi-finals.

They now host Huntingdonshire at Bicester & North Oxford in their final group game on Sunday.

Thematchwasabandoned after 27 overs of Oxfordshire’s innings, but they won by virtue of a superior run rate.

Winning the toss, with rain in the forecast, skipper AndrewTolson opted to field first, and Oxon made quick inroads into the Bedfordshire order as left-arm seamer Lawrence Brock bowled with pace and accuracy.

He took the first three wickets to fall, all bowled, finishing with excellent figures of 4-35 from his ten overs.

Jason Cardy took two wickets in two balls to maintain the pressure, while Zak Jarvis also claimed a brace of wickets as Beds were all out for 131.

Oxon set about the chase in positive fashion as Tom Condon and MarkusJeacock shared 90 for the first wicket.

Although they both then fell quickly, Oxon reached 105-2 in 27 overs when the heavens opened.

But with their run rate ahead of their hosts and with the statutory 20 overs having been bowled, Oxon sealed victory to move up to third place in the table.

Meanwhile, a ninth-wicket stand of 132 between Angus Spittles and Callum Russell helped Oxfordshire to an 86-run victory over Dorset in their two-day match at Shipton-under-Wychwood.

After the poor batting display of a week earlier, this was a vastly improved performance as they rattled up 368 all out, although it needed the late stand between Spittles and Russell to put them into a commanding position.

Winning the toss and batting first, Oxfordshire once again lost three quick wickets as Joe Barrett, Jeacock and Alex Davies all fell cheaply.

But a 92-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Rowant’s Tom Condon and Andrew Tolson got Oxon back on track, former falling for 56 and Tolson 66.

Another cluster of wickets saw Oxon slump to 190-8, before Spittles and Russell came together.

The pair shared a magnificent partnership of 132, taking the score to 322-9.

When Russell fell early on the second day, Jason Cardy and Spittles added 46 for the last wicket as Oxon were all out for 368.

Dorset were left with 88 overs to reach the target, and, inspired by opener Will Caldwell, were always in with a chance.

Caldwell’s magnificent 102 from 206 balls led the way.

But they were all out for 282 as Spittles completed an excellent match with 3-31. There were also two wickets apiece for Brock and Leo Bethell.