Oxfordshire pulled off the great escape to beat Hertfordshire by 14 runs in a thrilling clash at North Mymms yesterday.

Victory means Oxon can still qualify for the quarter-finals, but having played their final Pool 3 match, need results to go their way next Sunday.

Having been 17-4 at one point, Oxon produced a useful rally to reach 163 all out, with debutant Jamie Perkin making 48 not out and opener Alex Jewell 44.

Herts were still massive favourites, but were left to rue conceding 64 runs for the final two wickets of the visitors’ innings.

However, a mixture of sloppy batting and tidy bowling saw Oxfordshire edge home as Chad Keegan and Jack Taylor claimed three wickets apiece.

Oxfordshire won the toss and batted, but lost Richard Kaufman, who made 170 last time out, for just one in the second over.

Keegan was promoted to No 3, but lasted just three balls before joining Kaufman in the hutch.

With Jack Taylor and Chris Watling also falling cheaply, Oxon were in major trouble.

Jewell, who made a useful 44 off 70 balls, and Shahbaz Ali steadied the ship with a 56-run partnership, but 73-4 became 85-7 and 99-8 as Herts turned the screw.

Will Rudge, Nick Walker and Nick Lamb all produced impressive figures for the hosts, who must have expected to be chasing a smaller total.

The fightback really started when captain Ian Hawtin joined debutant Perkin at the crease after former Oxon man Jamie Hewitt bowled Luke Ryan in an over featuring three wides.

Hawtin added three quick fours before being adjudged lbw to Ben Frazer – a decision he was clearly not happy with.

Perkin upped the ante to score seven fours and a six in his 48 not out.

He and Matt Taylor took the score past 150 to give Oxon an outside chance.

Perkin looked set to reach 50 before Taylor was caught and bowled by Frazer with a superb diving catch above his head.

Oxon opened with seamer Keegan and off-spinner Jack Taylor, to put on the squeeze, although the latter conceded two wides in his first over.

The visitors struck in the third over, with Hewitt mistiming a hook to Matt Taylor off Keegan.

Left-armer Matt Taylor was brought on for the sixth over and soon had some success, removing Lamb with a superb diving catch off his own bowling.

The following over, Ryan dropped a tough, spiralling, chance to remove Dan Blacktopp after running backwards from slip.

Blacktopp’s next ball saw him out lbw to Taylor, while Jamie Southgate made just ten before nicking one to Hawtin.

Keegan struck again to remove Herts skipper Andy Lewis for three to put Oxon well and truly in the match.

Walker was not looking to hang around and pulled Keegan for a massive six over mid-wicket.

But his aggression proved his downfall as a mis-timed swipe gave Matt Taylor an easy catch at short fine leg.

Opener Eddie Ballard was dropped by Kaufman at slip after giving a sharp chance.

Herts continued to play with unecessary boldness, given the very low required rate and Frazer was bowled by Jack Taylor going for a stupid sweep.

Rudge hit the same bowler for six before being caught behind, making the score 138-8.

Ballard had been the rock of Herts’ innings, but he fell lbw to Jack Taylor with the score on 149.

Four balls later, Ryan had Simon White caught by Kaufman at slip and it was all over.