Jonny Cater’s superb knock of 80 set Oxfordshire up for their third straight win in the Unicorns Counties Trophy with a 51-run victory over Staffordshire at Bicester & North Oxford yesterday.

The Buckingham Town wicket-keeper provided the backbone of Oxfordshire's 219-7 from 50 overs after they had been put in to bat in the Group 4 clash on a green pitch under cloudy skies.

A disciplined home attack then bowled Staffordshire out for 168, despite Michael Hill’s unbeaten 76 off 65 balls, which included five fours and six maximums.

Hugo Darby got Oxon off to a flying start with 34 off 35 balls, but the hosts slumped to 55-3 as he was dismissed along with Lloyd Sabin and Joe White.

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Richard Kaufman (36) joined Cater in an 83-run stand to get things back on track before Chad Keegan hit a breezy 28 off 26 balls.

Cater kept up the attack until he was stumped by Alex Mellor from the last ball of the innings bowled by Callum Parkinson, his runs coming off 96 deliveries with five fours.

Karl Penhale removed openers Mellor and Kadeer Ali, before Keegan shattered Tim Maxfield’s stumps to reduce Staffordshire to 23-3.

Peter Wilshaw and Callum Parkinson then shared a 50-run stand, but once they were parted by Oxon skipper Luke Ryan wickets fell at regular intervals.

Hill remained defiant hitting Ryan, who finished with 2-28 off 9.4 overs, and West (3-44) for three sixes apiece, before he ran out of partners.