Oxfordshire's patched-up side are up against it in their Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash against Dorset after a remarkable second day in which 23 wickets fell.

With the match switched to Great & Little Tew after the first day at Banbury was washed out and the ground unlikely to be fit for play, Oxon bowled out Dorset for 178 after the visitors won the toss and decided to bat.

But Oxon, who were decimated by unavailability, were then skittled for just 116.

By the close, Dorset had reached 44-3 in their second innings – a lead of 106 with seven wickets remaining.

Oxon got off to a fantastic start by reducing Dorset to 0-2.

Gloucestershire import David Wade was first to strike when he had Nick Park caught behind by Jamie Perkin.

There was then a magical moment for 15-year-old substitute fielder Ryan Moore, from Bicester & North Oxford CC, when he caught Aaron Williams at mid-on off Matt Taylor.

And when Wade trapped Masoor Khan lbw, Dorset were 5-3.

Former Army man Wade continued his explosive start by picking up his third wicket with Moore taking his second catch at mid-on to see off Charlie Esson and make it 27-4.

And after David Smith and Ashley Blanchard picked up the wickets of Darren Cowley and former Oxford University captain Tom Hicks, Dorset were 49-6.

But then Chris Park and Ed Denham put on 86 for the seventh wicket.

Blanchard ended their stand when he had Denham caught at second slip by Lloyd Sabin for 53, which included six fours.

After Mitch Wilson was removed by Francois Vainker, Park’s innings of 61, with five fours, came to an end when he was stumped by Perkin off Richard Kaufman, before James Hayman was the last man out, falling to Vainker.

But then Oxfordshire collapsed in even more dramatic fashion.

Following Kaufman’s early dismissal, Oxon lost six wickets for 17 runs to tumble from 39-1 to 56-7 as Sabin, Chris Watling, Perkin, Smith, Rich-ard West and Ian Crosby went in quick succession.

Blanchard and Vainker (27no) staged some resistance, but when Oxon were all out they had conceded a 62-run first innings deficit, with Denham (4-29), Wilson (3-27) and Hicks (3-38) sharing the spoils.

Wickets continued to tumble in Dorset’s second innings with Taylor nipping out Park.

Vainker then saw off Williams and with what turned out to be the last ball of the day Wade removed Esson.

Scores: Dorset 178 (C Park 61, E Denham 53) & 44-3, Oxfordshire 116.