Minor Counties Championship

OXFORDSHIRE captain Richard Kaufman accep-ted they had a lucky escape after rain earned them an unlikely draw against Berkshire at Henley yesterday.

Berkshire were left stranded on their lunchtime score of 134-2, just 27 runs short of victory in the Western Division clash, when the deluge prevented any further play.

And having also seen the first day’s played washed out, Oxon had more than their fair share of meteorological help.

“If we are being honest, we were out of the game at lunch,” said Kaufman, who was the leading the side for the first time in the absence of the injured Ian Hawtin.

“Berkshire batted well in the morning and we didn’t have much luck with the ball.

“But the rain saved us, let’s face it. All the players know that.”

Resuming on 163-8, Oxon added just another eight runs in four overs to be all out for 171.

David Smith and Matt Taylor were both caught in the slips off the bowling of former Oxfordshire junior Tom Nugent, who took seven wickets in the match.

That left Berkshire needing 161 to win – and they made a solid start.

Oxon had a brief sniff when left-arm spinner Francois Vainker removed Michael Roberts and Daniel Housego in successive balls – the latter completing a pair for the match.

But David Barnes and James Morris batted sensibly through to lunch at 1.15pm It was then that the heavens opened and the match was finally abandoned as a draw at 5.30pm.

Despite Oxon relying on good fortune, Kaufman stressed there had been some positives to come out of the match.

He said: “We bowled very well in the first innings and with fantastic intensity.

“We have got one of the best bowling attacks around.

“The batsmen just have to step up to it.

“If we can get 250 or more on the board, then we can do something and have a really good season. We have just got to learn.”

Having been skittled for 105 in their first innings, Oxfordshire fought back well on Monday afternoon, but they could not sustain it.

Kaufman said: “We put ourselves in a strong position at 100-2.

“At that point, we thought we were at least going to set them 250, but we just fell away.”