Oxfordshire were facing defeat at the end of day two of their Western Division opener at Henley after Berkshire staged a dramatic fightback.

Starting the day with a 91-run first-innings lead, Oxon were unable to withstand an impressive counter-attack by the hosts, who posted 286 second time around.

That left Oxon with a target of 196 for victory.

But by the close they had collapsed to 119-8, still 77 runs short of victory.

Sport

Openers Simon Macey and Waqas Hussain took the fight to Oxon, racing away at more than six an over with Karl Penhale and skipper Luke Ryan, who elected to use his own left-arm spin first up, unable to stop the flow of runs.

The Berkshire duo put on 137 for the first wicket, before Macey, who hit 66 off 86 balls with ten fours, became one of eight lbw victims in the innings, with Richard Kaufman’s off-spin providing the breakthrough.

Hussain was then plumb in front to leg-spinner Will Beer for 74 from 89 deliveries, with eight fours and two sixes.

The Sussex all-rounder went on take 5-81 on his debut, with Kaufman picking up 4-45, while Harry Stephens made 42.

Oxfordshire then lost three wickets with the score on eight as Michael Beard, Lloyd Sabin and Hugo Darby departed to a combination of left-arm spinner Chris Peploe and paceman Tom Nugent.

Richard Kaufman and Jonny Cater steadied the ship only for both to fall lbw with the score on 49 to Peploe and Gurveer Singh respectively.

Beer and Ryan went to slip catches by Euan Woods off Peploe, who finished the day with 5-39 to make it 11 wickets in the match so far.

Berkshire claimed the extra half-hour to try and wrap up victory.

But after Andy Harris departed, Joe White and Penhale stood firm.