OXFORDSHIRE captain Ian Hawtin reflected on a positive season, despite his side’s eight-wicket hammering by Cheshire.

Hawtin’s men were well beaten in their final Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash at Alderley Edge yesterday.

Resuming their second innings on 244-8, still 13 runs behind Cheshire’s first innings’ total, Oxon were all out for 307, with Jamie Perkin hitting 65. Cheshire cruised to 51-2 just before lunch.

Hawtin said: “It is a bit disappointing to not finish with a win, but there are lots and lots of positives that have come out of this season.

“Jonny Cater, Jamie Perkin, Alex Jewell and Ashley Blanchard have all come on well and Chad Keegan has made a big impact.

“If you go back and look at the one-dayers, with a very young side, we played some exciting cricket.

“We have just had a few bad sessions in the three-dayers, but we are going in the right direction.”

Luke Ryan was the first Oxon wicket to fall, stumped for 14.

Perkin, who had earlier retired hurt following a blow to his right elbow, hit ten fours and a six in his 65 before being last man out, caught at mid on.

Daniel Rowe had Warren Goodwin caught at point by Cater to leave Cheshire 3-1.

Wicket-keeper Johnny Kettle was caught by Ryan at mid-on off Keegan to make it 35-2, but Richard Wilkinson and Lee Dixon saw Cheshire home.

Hawtin added: “We didn’t bowl particularly well in the first session on the first day and we were always trying to play catch up after that.

“Cheshire played very well and we weren’t at our best.”

l A PHOTO of David Smith was incorrectly captioned as Charlie Knightley in yesterday’s paper.