AN excellent batting display saw Oxfordshire's Development XI cruise to a four-wicket victory over Bedfordshire in the Tom Orford Trophy at The Queen's College Ground.

The day began in inauspicious style when Beds failed to provide an umpire, which meant their scorer had to deputise in the middle.

Resuming on 24-2 in reply to Beds' 298, Oxon lost Ned Murray quickly, but Ed Phillips (94) and Danny Harding (89) helped them home.

Phillips and Alex Jewell (31) put on 132 for the fourth wicket, giving the hosts momentum they never lost.

These two fell in quick succession, but a 91-run sixth-wicket stand from captain John Williams and Harding took Oxon within sight of victory.

They won the game 40 minutes before tea, but competitions rules meant they had to keep batting.

This gave Harding, who smashed 13 fours and three sixes, a dart at a century, but he holed out on the boundary.

Team manager Neil Pearson said: "We were happy with that after a stuttering first day.

"All the batsmen contributed today. I knew we had batting right the way through, so I wasn't too worried."