Young Bourton Vale seamer Ryan Newhook took a hat-trick as Oxfordshire recorded their first Minor Counties victory for two years at Bicester & North Oxford yesterday.

The Bourton Vale teenager finished with 3-20, helping Oxon to a miraculous 34-run win over Herefordshire against all the odds.

It was their first taste of success in the Western Division since July 2002 when they defeated Dorset at Dean Park.

Only 17 runs ahead with five wickets down in their second innings, Oxon increased their lead to 113 and then dismissed the visitors for just 78.

Horspath's Robbie Eason was Oxon batting star, carrying his bat for 80 not out, ably assisted by Ian Evans with 45. The overnight pair put on 66 priceless runs together.

It gave Oxon something to bowl at, and they responded in style.

Newhook trapped opener Rob Hughes leg before for one and then had Henry Langford caught behind by Ian Hawtin next ball.

Another successful lbw shout against first-innings centurion Chris Boroughs left Hereford reeling on 3-3 and they never recovered.

Skipper Keith Arnold and Philip Evans polished off the middle order and tail respectively with three wickets apiece, and it was fitting that the direct hit to run out Herefordshire's last man should come from young Newhook.

OXFORDSHIRE

First Innings: 239 (I Evans 51).

Second Innings

(Overnight 126-5)

R Eason not out...80

I Evans c Rawnsley b Exall...41

J Williams c Exall b Rawnsley ...13

K Arnold lbw Rawnsley ...5

R Newhook run out ...0

J Phillips c Whitmarsh b Hornyold ...0

Extras...11

Total (all out, 88.3 ovs)...221

Fall: 6-179, 7-212, 8-218, 9-219.

Bowling: Roberts 27-5-73-4, Sutton 6-1-21-0, Parker 10-3-33-0, Hornyold 9.3-2-33-1, Rawnsley 33-14-53-3, Exall 3-2-3-1.

HEREFORDSHIRE

First Innings: 348-7 (C Burroughs 142, M Rawnsley 81).

Second Innings

H Patel lbw Arnold ...24

R Hughes lbw Newhook ...1

H Langford c Hawtin b Newhook ...0

C Borroughs lbw Newhook...0

D Exall c Hawtin b Arnold...19

M Rawnsley c Hawtin b Arnold ...3

T Whitmarsh c Knightley b P Evans...2

J Hornyold not out...12

S Roberts c Newhook b P Evans...5

A Sutton lbw P Evans ...3

R Parker run out ...0

Extras...9

Total (all out, 27.5ovs)...78

Fall: 1-3, 2-3, 3-3, 4-39, 5-50, 6-53, 7-67, 8-74, 9-78.

Bowling: Arnold 14-3-25-3, Newhook 5-0-20-3, P Evans 8.5-1-26-3.

Oxon 21pts, Herefordshire 8