Oxfordshire Under 23s let their Bedfordshire counterparts off the hook by dropping half a dozen catches on the first day of their Tom Orford Trophy match at The Queens College ground.

On a day when temperatures were up in the 90s, Oxon took wickets steadily despite some lapses in the field.

Bedfordshire were struggling at 31-2 and 233-8, but rallied each time. An eighth-wicket stand of 65, as the visitors' tail wagged, was particularly frustrating.

Jack Brooks, Ashley Blanchard, Dickon Morris and Chris Watling each took two wickets with Brooks denied two more by no-ball calls.

Oxon lost two wickets in the 11 overs of their reply before the close.