OXFORDSHIRE’S reply was brought to an early end when a car crash halted play on the second day of their Western Division clash against Shropshire.

Play will resume at 10.30am after two vehicles collided at the entrance to Shifnal Cricket Club and forced the abandonment of Monday’s proceedings with eight overs still to play.

Oxon still trail by 36 runs in the Unicorns Counties Championship clash, and will commence on 67-3.

Earlier in the day, a marathon spell from spinner Harvey Eltham (7-151) could not stop Shropshire from posting 383-9 from their 90 overs, building a first-innings lead of 103.

Resuming on 71-0, Omar Ali (90) and captain Steve Leach (50) continued from where they left off on Sunday.

They put on a 149-run partnership, before Oxon finally broke through – Eltham, who bowled 43 overs, trapping Leach leg before wicket.

Ali followed, caught in the slips by Lloyd Sabin, after smashing 13 fours and a six, before Charlie Home was out to leave the hosts on 178-3.

But Shropshire continued to score consistently, Will Parton and Joe Carresco (59) putting on 35 for the fourth wicket before the former was caught by Harry Smith at mid-wicket off Eltham.

Carresco was the Oxford teenager’s next victim, but not before he combined with Ross Aucott (90) to further strengthen Shropshire’s charge with a 95-run partnership.

The hosts were in a strong position at 308-5 with 12 overs still to play.

Aucott and Jack McIver then added 36 runs before the latter was caught by Sabin at mid-wicket.

Shropshire slipped from 344-6 to 353-8, but Aucott and Ryan Lockley further frustrated Oxon.

The former was eventually dismissed in the 89th over as the hosts closed on 383-9.

Oxon made a steady start to their second innings, but Vishane Perera was caught in the slips by Omar Ali in the ninth over to reduce them to 35-1.

Sabin and Callum Russell followed to leave Oxon 50-3, before play was abandoned for the day in bizarre circumstances.