Oxfordshire failed to make the most of helpful bowling conditions on the first day of their three-day Minor Counties Championship game at home to Cheshire.

Flash flooding on Saturday had saturated the Challow & Childrey CC pitch, rendering it a bowler's paradise.

The track was so wet that the start was delayed until 2.15pm, but Cheshire's batsmen were, nevertheless, able to post an imposing total of 313 all out.

It was probably 100 or so more than they ought to have made, and if the wicket continues to seam about and spin extravagantly, then it could well prove to be a match-winning score.

Rob Williams led by example in the field

Having won the toss and and chosen to field, Oxon skipper Rob Williams will have been slightly disappointed with the display of his bowlers.

Disappointed - but probably not surprised.

Without the injured Keith Arnold, Oxon's attack looks a little ordinary. It is made up of good club performers, who will always struggle slightly when they step up to a higher level.

Arnold would have been almost unplayable yesterday, but in his absence, the spinners did not bowl with enough control to put pressure on the batsmen, and the seamers did not appear able to land the ball on the seam consistently.

It is a mistake the Cheshire bowlers will be keen not to repeat today.

The dangerman for Oxfordshire is likely to be Simon Renshaw.

The medium pacer, who was released by Hampshire at the end of last season, is ideally suited to this type of surface, and the home batsmen will probably have to play extremely well to keep themselves in the game.

Nathan Wood, the son of ex-England player Barry Wood, was the top-scorer for the visitors with 83.

The little left-hander ran out opening partner Mark Currie, before he was bamboozled by a full delivery from Giles Peddy.

Shipton left-armer Shaun Miller picked up his first Championship wicket on his debut when Richard Hignett edged him to Williams at slip.

And Williams was to have a hand in the next two dismissals.

First, he snapped up a bat-pad catch to remove his opposite number, Ian Cockbain, off the bowling of Paul Jeacock. Then, he reacted quickly at silly point to run out the classy Andrew Hall.

Oxfordshire's fielding is not always of the highest standard, but it is not because Williams fails to lead by example.

CHESHIRE

First Innings

N Wood b Peddy...83

M Currie run out...32

A Hall run out...70

R Hignett c Williams b Miller...6

I Cockbain c Williams b Jeacock...10

N Cross b Adams...35

S Renshaw b Jeacock...4

Z Feather c Hawtin b Jeacock...12

S Bramhall c Miller b Adams...19

C Lamb c Peddy b Adams...12

C Finegan not out...0

Extras...30

Total (all out, 89 ovs)...313

Fall: 1-83, 2-147, 3-168, 4-193, 5-231, 6-237, 7-263, 8-291, 9-313.

Bowling: Adams 12-2-32-3, Laudat 6-1-20-0, Jeacock 24-5-81-3, Bellhouse 14-0-64-0, Peddy 15-3-36-1, Miller 18-4-68-1.

Oxfordshire 4 pts, Cheshire 3

*Play was due to start today at 11am and ends at 7pm. The scheduled hours of play tomorrow are 10.30am to 5.30pm.