OXFORDSHIRE suffered a five-wicket defeat to Devon in their season opener at Wormsley yesterday.

Luke Ryan’s side set 198-8 in the first match of their Unicorns Counties Trophy campaign, but a fifth-wicket stand of 110 between Robert Woodman and Matthew Thompson inspired Devon to victory with three overs to spare.

The visitors won the toss and elected to field.

Oxon openers Hugo Darby and the quick-scoring Richard Kaufman, who hit 18 off 21 balls, fell in quick succession to leave the hosts on 34-2.

Lloyd Sabin was then trapped leg before wicket by Ben Green.

Debutants Harry Stephens and George Munsey put on 43 for the fourth wicket to steady the ship, but when they were both dismissed the hosts found themselves 99-5.

Jonny Cater, who top-scored with 34, helped Oxon’s cause, only for Chad Keegan to fall lbw to Green for 18.

Wicket-keeper Cater was next to go, leaving the home side on 162-7 and after making 25 off 30, captain Luke Ryan was run out by Thompson as Oxon closed on 198.

Devon made a solid start with openers Daniel Wolf and Liam Lewis putting on 40, before Will Rooney dismissed the former.

Keegan quickly removed Max Curtis to leave the visitors on 47-2.

And when Ryan trapped Lewis lbw and Green was run out by Karl Penhale, the match was firmly in the balance with Devon on 87-4.

However, skipper Woodman, who top-scored with 73 not out, and Thompson (51) shared a match-winning stand to guide Devon to victory.

Woodman was dropped in the deep after passing his half-century as Oxon were unable to prevent defeat in their first Group 1 match of the season.