Oxfordshire Under 13s produced a heroic performance on the final day of the Taunton Festival to round off a memorable season as ESCA festival champions for the first time in many years.

Lying third in the table at the start of the final day, a win against Gloucestershire was a must for Oxon if they were to have any chance of lifting the trophy.

Gloucestershire elected to bat, and Oxon were quickly in trouble when Lawrence Brock withdrew with injury.

Joe Barrett took over the opening bowler’s role and produced a perfect spell to remove opener Monk, before further injuries, firstly to keeper Dan Matthews and then to reserve keeper Ben Knowles meant that Oxon were down to just ten fit players plus their substitute fielder.

At 150-3, Gloucestershire threatened a big total, before Will Sutcliffe removed Tom Smith for 74.

This proved the catalyst for Oxon as they reduced their opponents to 193-9 in their 50 overs.

In reply, Joe Barrett and Markus Jeacock put on 44 for the first wicket before Andrew Tolson, with a third consecutive 50 of the week, began to guide Oxfordshire towards victory.

When Tolson fell for 53, closely followed by Miles Hammond, the game was again in the balance with Oxon needing 44 from their remaining 12 overs.

As news filtered through that fellow title-chasers Derbyshire had failed to beat Staffordshire, Oxon had everything to play for.

Knowles, batting with a runner, stayed composed to guide his team to a three-wicket victory with unbeaten 29.

The tournament win had been built around fine performances not only on the final day, but also throughout the week.

They began with a draw against Derbyshire followed by a domination of Staffordshire in a match where Barrett (129no) scored a brilliant maiden ton for the county.