Minor Counties Championship

Oxfordshire captain Ian Hawtin was left disappointed after their Western Division clash with Cheshire was abandoned as a draw yesterday with a full session remaining.

Looking to preserve their top-of-the-table spot, Cheshire showed little ambition before they were dismissed for 340 in 113.5 overs.

This set Oxon a nominal 350 for victory with little more than 35 overs left to bowl.

The captains decided there was no point continuing at the tea interval with Oxfordshire on 7-0, although the official reason for the abandonment will be bad light stopped play.

Hawtin said: "I am a bit disappointed. I think they set their stall out to just bat as long as possible and bat us out of the game.

"They wanted to give us no opportunity of a chase and they were quite nervous about it, which is interest- ing.

"There was nothing left in the game, so we called it a day.

"If you wanted to block out, it was a pretty flat track really."

He added: "There were some good performances. Luke Ryan took another five wickets and Charlie Knightley, Rob Williams and Dave Taylor all batted well.

"We thought we had a sniff when they were 200-odd for six, but it was difficult taking wickets. We tried to attack, but it wasn't to be."

Cheshire resumed on 137-3 and never really accelerated the run rate until after lunch. Indeed, their average for the whole innings was less than three runs an over.

Top-scorer Warren Goodwin fell to Keith Arnold for 84, while Danny Leech (71) and Jason Whittaker (58) added solidity.

Cheshire were 215-6 at one stage, but Oxon couldn't press home any advantage.

Although left-arm spinner Ryan took 5-103 in 45.5 overs, including 13 maidens, it was never going to be enough.

Cheshire finished with four ducks, but their unambitious play kept them firmly in the Western Division driving seat.

Openers Jamie Hewitt and Chris Smith batted out the five overs left before tea, which proved the last action.

Oxon scorer Nobby Clarke summed up many people's frustration when he said: "That has never happened to me in 15 years of scoring. Someone has always set a total.

"It just annoys me - that is why I refused to put our score on the board in the second innings."