Oxfordshire team manager Steve Gilkes was delighted for his players after Kent’s surprise defeat by Sussex handed his side a place in the Middleton Cup quarter-finals.

Oxon looked as if they would be pipped for top spot in Group 2B South – and a place in the last eight – after losing their last game 119-110 to Kent at Maidstone for an 18-4 points reverse.

That left Oxon clinging to the hope that Sussex would beat Kent at least 16-6 on points at Popes Mead, near Crawley, to see them through.

And Sussex rose to the occasion with a 118-103 victory for an 18-4 points success.

Gilkes said: “It is great for the lads after the effort they have put in.

“We only narrowly lost to Kent anyway in a game which could have gone either way.”

Now Oxon can look forward to facing the winners of Devon and Cornwall, who meet in a rearranged clash at Exonia BC, Exeter, on Saturday, in the quarter-finals at Dorchester in Dorset on Saturday, July 21.

Devon and Cornwall are locked together at the top of Group 4AWest on 38 points after both sides posted wins over Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

Devon have the edge on shots with a record of plus 78.

The winners at Dorchester will go forward to Worthing where they face either Norfolk or Derbyshire in the semi-finals on Saturday, August 25.