SKIPPER Jonny Cater was at the centre of Oxfordshire’s recovery on the first day of their Unicorns Counties Championship match against Devon at Exeter yesterday.

Cater shared half-century stands with the experienced Richard Kaufman and the young Leo Bethell as Oxon recovered from 49-3 to 273 all out in the Western Division clash.

By the close, Devon were 134-3 in reply.

The visitors made a disastrous start after choosing to bat first, losing Hugo Darby, who played two superb innings in their previous match against Herefordshire, to the first ball of the game, caught down the leg-side.

Ben Charlesworth, 15, shaped up well on his debut, but his dismissal for 17 and Lloyd Sabin’s for nought left Oxon in trouble.

Kaufman, with a spirited 76 from 83 balls and 14 fours, righted the ship first with Michael Beard and then with Cater, after Harrison Ward had become the third duck of the innings, when adjudged leg before.

Oxon were again in trouble at 187-8, but Cater, who made 69 off 109 balls, found a good partner in Bethell, with whom he shared a ninth-wicket stand of 70. Bethell’s 38 took 55 balls.

Devon’s opening pair put on 67, but Oxon bowlers, led by off-spinner Harvey Eltham, claimed three wickets by the close.