Minor Counties Championship

IT was a bitter-sweet day for Oxfordshire as they completed a comprehensive five-wicket victory over Wiltshire at Devizes.

Oxon did all they could do, but Cornwall had already thrashed Wales by ten wickets to secure their first Western Division title in 109 years.

This was particularly galling for Ian Hawtin’s men as they were one wicket away from defeating Cornwall in their previous match before rain stopped play.

Had they won that match at Great & Little Tew, Oxfordshire would have topped the division to set up a Championship decider against neighbours Bucks next month.

Cornwall topped the table on 88 points, ahead of Oxon (79) and Wiltshire (78).

“It was a good performance all round, but it was very frustrating,” said Hawtin.

“We out-played Cornwall and Wiltshire in every department in the last two matches.

“We showed that we are a competitive side.”

Resuming on 29-0, Oxon lost Richard Kaufman to Henley’s Tahir Afridi after adding just two further runs.

Lloyd Sabin top-scored with 33 before falling to to Mukesh Bhatt.

Both were caught behind by substitute wicket-keeper Chris Powell, who was drafted in after Steve Bullen crashed his car the previous night.

Bullen was not seriously hurt, but it was felt best for him to sit out the rest of the match.

Afridi added the wickets of Richard West, Jamie Perkin and Chris Watling to finish with 4-75.

At 100-4, Wiltshire had a sniff, but David Smith and Chad Keegan saw Oxon home for the loss of one further wicket and finally extinguished their hosts’ own title hopes.

Kaufman was Oxon’s man-of-the-match with his Championship best 168 in the first innings plus 3-23.

He said: “It is just such a shame. We would have won the league if it hadn’t rained in that last match.

“Cornwall were 97-9 and needed 22 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

“There was a game where rain saved us against Berkshire, but draws only get you four points. We lost 12 points by not beating Cornwall.”

Kaufman, who also made 160 against Cornwall, added: “I am hitting it quite nicely. I have played better since Rupert Evans has taken charge.

“He told me to back myself and play naturally.

“I think he knew that when I play an innings like that, it can win a match.”