RICHARD Kaufman’s magnificent 170 could not save Oxfordshire from a dismal three-wicket defeat by Bedfordshire in MCCA Trophy Pool 3 at Banbury yesterday.

Kaufman’s superb innings was an Oxfordshire one-day record.

But some inept bowling, especially in the closing overs, saw Oxon surrender a winning position and they are now up against it to qualify from the group.

Bedfordshire were 115-1 after 25 overs and not looking like mounting a challenge.

But they steadily increased the run rate and benefited from some very loose bowling, with Matt Taylor and Nathan Hawkes the main culprits.

They each conceded 17 runs in a single wide-laden over as Bedfordshire claimed victory at 312-7 with three balls to spare.

Earlier, opener Kaufman blasted 22 fours and three sixes to dominate Oxon’s 311-8.

He reached 100 with the total on 149 and passed 150 with his side on 235.

The Camden batsman fell just ten runs short of the MCCA Trophy record set by Bedfordshire’s Alex Wakely of 180 against Oxfordshire in 2009 after being well caught by Ollie Clayson off Andy Reynoldson at point.

The chief partnership was the 129 compiled between Kaufman and Chris Watling, whose fluent 46 came off 42 balls.

When Watling, Kaufman and debutant Chad Keegan were out in quick succession, Oxon’s flow was briefly halted.

But Luke Ryan added a quickfire 29 off 17 balls to take the score beyond 300.

Seamer William Sneath was the pick of Bedfordshire’s bowlers with 2-37, while off-spinner Reynoldson claimed three wickets.

Bedfordshire opener Dan Simpson soon tucked into Great & Little Tew left-armer Taylor before the youngster hit back to trap him lbw.

Robbie Keogh and Reynoldson then seemed content to score at less than five an over.

It was 115-1 at drinks, which left the visitors needing to score at 7.88 runs per over to win.

Keogh was caught for 78 by Keegan off Ryan at long off, and despite a 12-run 35th over, the rate climbed to more than nine.

Bedfordshire skipper Clayson, who hit Keegan for three successive fours, was dropped by Ryan at long off, while some decent hitting left the target at 99 off ten overs.

Steve Stubbings raced to 50 off 37 balls, but Clayson was run out for 44 by a direct hit from Ashley Blanchard.

And Stubbings was then run out for 65 going for a tight second, Blanchard again the fielder.

Taylor was brought back and sent down four wides, but great work from wicket-keeper Ian Hawtin saw Ollie Swann stumped off the third.

Kaufman returned for one over and conceded just four runs, while having Martin Weightman caught behind going for a reverse sweep.

It looked curtains after Hawkes’s third over went for 17.

Keegan prolonged the match into a final over, but Bedfordshire got home.