Oxfordshire suffered a disastrous collapse as they made an inauspicious start to the Seevant 60+ County Championship with a 106-run defeat by Gloucestershire at the picturesque Stowell Park ground.

Chasing Gloucestershire’s imposing 248-4 off 45 overs, Oxfordshire had Ian Caunce, who has been selected for the England 60+ squad to face Australia this summer, run out in the first over.

Adrian Beecroft and Adrian Manger put on 56 for the second wicket, but a disastrous collapse saw the visitors lose five wickets for five runs to subside to 68-6.

It was left to the lower middle-order to restore some respectability as Oxfordshire eventually closed at 142-7.

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Earlier, captain Keith Daniels (58) and Bill Lawrence (57) hit half-centuries for Gloucestershire in an opening stand of 125.

Scores: Gloucestershire 60+ 248-4 (K Daniels 58, W Lawrence 57, J Evans 47, D Collinson 32), Oxfordshire 60+ 142-7 (A Manger 31, P Thorn 3-27).