OXFORDSHIRE Under 17s recovered from a poor start to ease past Herefordshire by an innings and 48 runs in Division 2B of the ECB County Championship.

Batting first at Brockhampton, Oxon slipped to 105-5 in the two-day match.

But Archie Spittles (80) and Asad Rafiq (76) helped turn it around and helped the visitors post a commanding 351-8 declared.

Herefordshire struggled to gain momentum, with Thomas Gould taking 4-33 and Rafiq 3-44, before they were dismissed for 186 and made to bat again.

They could then only post 213-7 before the end of the second day, George Reid starring with the ball for Oxon claiming 6-48.

OXON Under 15s fell to their third straight defeat as Gloucestershire triumphed by four wickets in Group 4A of the ECB County Cup at Bloxham School.

After being restricted to 67-5, a ninth-wicket partnership of 78 from Tom Chesser (36) and George Tait (37) helped the hosts post 183-9.

But the visitors never looked troubled and, despite three late wickets for Tait, they crossed the line with seven overs to spare.

OXON Under 12s edged to a three-wicket win over Berkshire in a thrilling friendly at Watlington.

Despite falling to 45-4, Joshua Jayasingh (78no) and Kishore Naha (65) helped the away side post a competitive 205-5.

The Oxon reply turned out to be a real team effort, with Aidan Wilkinson hitting a brilliant 58 from 57 deliveries.

Alex Orders then scored an unbeaten 31 as the lower order helped Oxon over the line with four balls to spare.

JULIAN Laird inspired Oxon Under 10s to a 34-run win over Taunton Festival winners Berkshire in a friendly at Culham Court.

Dylan Driscoll anchored the Oxfordshire innings with 51, before Magnus Wrottesley (20) added some late momentum.

But the Berkshire spinners stifled their visitors, who finished on 122-8.

Laird then struck three times in quick succession as Berks slipped to 15-3 and then 60-5.

He then took three wickets in one over to finish with incredible figures of 6-2.