Richard Kaufman’s superb century helped Oxfordshire to their second highest score on day one of their Western Division clash with leaders Berkshire at Banbury.

Kaufman made 156 in Oxon’s 431-8 on a slow, flat pitch that proved ideal for batting.

This total has only been surpassed by Oxfordshire’s 460-9 against Berkshire at Didcot in 1947.

Berkshire closed on 75-1, with David Barnes and Jono McLean looking in good touch, but this was Oxfordshire’s day.

The hosts, who made one late change with Tom Geeson-Brown replacing the injured Rob Williams, elected to bat.

They started well through Kaufman and skipper Ian Hawtin on his 100th Championship appearance.

Despite a lot of rain falling elsewhere, there was just a 15-minute stoppage in the morning session.

Hawtin was dismissed for 20, with Charlie Knightley following him soon after, while Richard West fell for 14.

All this meant Kaufman, who reached 95 at lunch, was by far the dominant partner.

And he reached his ton in the over after the interval with a four down to third man.

Kaufman and Perkin put on 130 for the fourth wicket thanks to some fine batting and somewhat sloppy fielding.

Kaufman, who scored 170 on his last appearance at Banbury, passed 150 before chipping one to Bjorn Mordt at mid-off. His 189-ball innings featured 22 fours and one six.

Jonny Cater and Chad Keegan fell in the same Carl Crowe over as Berkshire rediscovered their intensity, but Perkin and Daniel Rowe steered Oxon to 308-6 at tea.

Perkin fell for 83 just after the resumption when he gave Crowe a leading edge.

It did not take long for Ashley Blanchard and Rowe to get the scoreboard ticking again, both bagging regular boundaries.

Rowe upped the ante even further after Blanchard was bowled out and brought up the 400 with a massive six.

The Swansea man then clubbed 25 off the final over, closing on 82 off 68 balls with seven fours and five sixes.

Carl Crowe and Steve Naylor picked up three wickets apiece for Berkshire.

Ex-England spinner Shaun Udal never looked dangerous and copped a heavy blow to his hand from a Perkin drive.

By only taking eight wickets, this was the first point Berks have dropped all season.

Keegan had opener Michael Roberts caught behind, but otherwise the visitors had little trouble with the bat.