ECB 50+ County Championship

PAUL Tew scored a century as Oxfordshire, beaten finalists last year, got this season’s campaign off to a winning start by beating Gloucestershire by 66 runs at Paulton on Wednesday.

Put in to bat, Oxon made the most of a cracking batting wicket to rattle up 317-4 off their 45 overs.

Tew and new captain Ian Caunce added 119 for the first wicket, Tew going on to make 102 with 15 fours.

Tony Munsey helped himself to a half-century, while Ady Manger and Malcolm Evans hammered 61 off the last five overs.

Gloucester never seriously threatened against an attack, which included Oxon’s record wicket-taker Keith Arnold and former Oxfordshire and Surrey left-arm spinner Ian Curtis, on his championship debut, and finished on 251-9.