Oxfordshire skipper Luke Ryan says his side head into Sunday’s Unicorns Counties Trophy quarter-final against Northumberland at Bicester & North Oxford in a confident mood.

Despite a dramatic one-wicket defeat to Berkshire last month, Oxfordshire finished top of Group 4 after showing impressive form to pick up three victories.

They face a Northumberland side who came runners-up in Group 3.

Oxfordshire progressed to the final last year for the first time and despite defeat to Devon at Wormsley, Ryan says that experience has given them confidence for this season’s campaign.

He added: “We have got pretty far the last couple of years and we are quite confident.

“We performed really well during the group stages.

“Within the group we have really high standards in terms of what we are able to do with our players.”

Ryan continued: “We don’t feel expectation or pressure from outside.

“We have just got to turn up and perform on the day and see where it gets us.”

Oxfordshire name the same side that helped them advance to the finals day of the inaugural Unicorns Counties T20 competition at the beginning of the month.

Banbury’s Hugo Darby and Great & Little Tew’s Joe White will continue their opening partnership after starring in the Trophy group stages.

Ryan, who also captains Banbury in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League, believes it is the strongest side he could have picked.

“We have a very good availability for the minor counties,” he said.

“We feel like that is our strongest 11.

“I am very confident in our limited-overs side.”

Oxfordshire: L Ryan (Banbury, capt), A Blanchard (Banbury), J Cater (Buckingham), H Darby (Banbury), R Kaufman (Old Northamptonians), C Keegan (Henley), K Penhale (Banbury), L Sabin (Banbury), R West (Banbury), J White (Great & Little Tew), O Wright (Banbury).