JONNY Cater says a top-four finish would be a success for his youthful Oxfordshire side having started the season heading into the unknown.

An impressive seven-wicket victory over Dorset a fortnight ago moved the county up to third place in the Western Division with two games remaining.

They now head into this weekend’s Unicorns Counties Championship clash at home to leaders Berkshire with a spring in their step.

Captain Cater is still calling for realism ahead of the three-day encounter at Challow & Childrey, but believes their current position is something to be pleased about.

“We’ve got to stay realistic with our ambitions,” he said.

“If we finish in the top four like we are at the moment in third place, that’s a very successful season for the side.”

He added: “If results go our way this week it could potentially be a four-horse race going into the last game.

“But we’ve got to take it one step at a time.”

Wicket-keeper batsman Cater was appointed captain in January, replacing Luke Ryan.

The skipper, who has made more than 50 appearances for Oxfordshire since his debut in 2011, made no secret of it being a transitional phase for the county.

A number of teenagers, including the likes of Jordan Garrett, James Fitzjohn, Harvey Eltham, Olly Clarke and Brad Taylor, have been given regular opportunities in the three-day format.

Cater has been impressed with their progression in such a short space of time.

He said: “At the start of the season, we were going into the unexpected, not knowing what we were going to achieve with such young players.

“But they’ve come in, relaxed, shown real confidence in their ability, matured beyond their years and performed really well.

“The last game (against Dorset) was outstanding to bowl them out for 136 on a pitch with a par score of 200 and to bat out was another excellent effort from our younger players to not worry about the situation of the game.

“It’s been really pleasing to see.

“There’s lots of positives so far.”

TOMORROW'S TEAM

Oxfordshire: J Cater (Buckingham Tn), L Sabin, O Clarke (both Banbury), J Garrett (Great & Little Tew), R Kaufman (Old Northamptonians), J Fitzjohn (Horspath), H Eltham (Oxford), L Bethall (Aston Rowant), B Taylor (Banbury), D Rawlins, O Robinson (both Sussex).