Stewart Laudat fell agonsingly short of a century as Oxford stormed to a crushing 165-run victory at Falkland in Division 1.

After being invited to bat, Oxford rattled up a massive 301-6 dec off 64 overs with Laudat making 99 off 141 balls with 15 fours.

Things hadn’t looked so promising earlier on as they were reduced to 54-3, before Laudat was joined by Jamie Perkin in a partnership of 158 for the fourth wicket.

Perkin’s runs came off 134 balls with 11 boundaries, before Stuart Hole smashed a quickfire 49 off 32 deliveries.

There was no sign of the collapse to follow when Falkland, last year’s Division 2 West champions, reached 93-2 off 22 overs at tea.

But wickets then fell at regular intervals and when opener Will Challoner went for 61, they collapsed in spectacular style to 136 all out.

Off-spinner Ian Evans took two wickets in his first over before going on to finish with 4-6 from three overs, while Shamilal Mendis picked up 3-20 off 12.2 overs.