Oxfordshire Under 19s lost by 18 runs to Knox Grammar School in a 50-over match on their Australia tour on Tuesday.
Knox, one of the strongest public school sides in New South Wales, posted 195 all out, before restricting Oxfordshire to 177-8 in reply at a glorious venue in the Sydney suburbs.
Matt Woods was the pick of the Oxon bowlers with 3-28.
Mike Beard led the reply, but wickets fell at regular intervals and despite some big hitting from Tom Geeson-Brown, Oxon finished just short.
Oxon had defeated Hunters Hill Pirates by nine wickets in their opening match of the tour, a Twenty20 fixture.
They dismissed their hosts for just 66, Joe Harris, Richard Simpson and Ed Gross each taking two wickets.
Joe Todd (32no) and Sam Ryan (28no) saw Oxon home with four overs to spare.
The tourists’ next challenge is against Manly Warringah District tomorrow, followed by a tough test against Sydney University at the Don Bradman Oval on Friday.
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