Oxfordshire are facing another rearguard action today as they attempt to avoid defeat against Shropshire in their Western Division clash at Whitchurch.

A below-par batting display on day two saw Oxon bowled out for 183 to leave them trailing by 135 runs on first innings.

They then had Shropshire in trouble at 52-5 in their second innings.

But a county record sixth-wicket partnership of 200 between Anthony Parker (109) and Richard Oliver (80no) saw the hosts stretch their advantage to 387 runs by the close.

It leaves Oxfordshire in a very similar situation to their last encounter against Devon which they lost by 116 runs.

And yet they had made a bright start to the day, taking the last three Shropshire wickets for a further 19 runs as the hosts were bowled out for 318, Keegan finishing with 4-52.

But then Oxon’s batting failed to fire.

Openers Richard Kaufman and Michael Beard fell with the score on 28, the former lbw to Jonty Mountford, while the latter was caught by Ed Foster at first slip off Neil Saker.

Rob Williams was trapped lbw by Saker, before Charlie Knightley gave Ed Foster his second slip catch with Andy Gray prompting the edge.

When skipper Ian Hawtin was adjudged lbw to Jono Whitney, Oxon were 77-5.

Keegan and Rowe were bowled by Saker, before top-scorer Jamie Perkin was lbw to Gray for 36 to make it 153-8.

Matt Taylor’s edge off Mountford provided Ed Foster’s third slip catch, and when Ashley Blanchard was run out for 27, Oxon were all out.

Keegan hit back with the ball, removing Ed Foster, Whitney and Murtagh to leave Shropshire 42-3.

With Blanchard trapping Jamie Ralph and Tom Cox lbw, Oxon were in the hunt.

But Parker, whose knock came off 141 balls and included ten fours and three sixes, and Oliver, who has so far cracked eight fours and a six during his 125-ball stay, took the game away from Oxon.

Parker was dropped twice by Jimmy Phillips at long off after he had passed 50, before he accepted a third chance on the boundary off Blanchard to signal the close of play.

Scores: Shropshire 318 (J Ralph 99, E Foster 51) & 252-6 (A Parker 109, R Oliver 80no), Oxfordshire 183.