LUCY Johnson and Lottie Oxton hit half centuries as Oxfordshire’s under 15 girls beat Wales by 23 runs at Cardiff.

In sweltering conditions at St Fagan’s, the visitors chose to bat first.

It looked a bad decision as leg spinner Sara Phillips had both openers caught for the cost of just five runs.

But Johnson and Oxton rebuilt the innings, adding 78 for the third wicket.

The latter provided much of the impetus, taking just 42 balls to reach 51 before she was run out.

Johnson continued with a more measured approach, forming partnerships which built a respectable total on a slow surface.

She brought up her 50 by sweeping to the boundary and was 56 not out as Oxon posted 163-5.

Amelie Trevedi took two early wickets to hamper Wales’s reply.

They faced an uphill battle at 13-3, before Grace Souch struck with her first delivery.

Oxon stayed firmly in charge when Clemmie Boyd bowled Holly Mayes and Georgia Munro, reducing Wales to 73-6.

Opener Sophia Smale’s resistance was broken on 36 by Alice Potter, who finished her spell on 3-9 to take the visitors to the brink of victory.

Wales were on 102-9, but the final pair proved difficult to dislodge.

They put on 38, but just as the tension was beginning to mount, Trivedi returned to claim the final wicket to finish on 3-8.

RESULTS ROUND-UP

MEN

Beds O50s 195-8, Oxon O50s B​ 197-3.

Wilts O60s 193-6, Oxon O60s 190-9 (M Howat 51, A Manger 39).

Oxon O60s B 182-7 (A Haynes 84), Surrey O60s B 184-4.

BOYS

Bucks U17 172 & 158, Oxon U17 280 (P Chahal 77 & G Tait 5-56) & 53-2.

Berks U10​ 96-4, Oxon U10 82.

Berks U10​ 106, Oxon U10 67.

Anglia U10​ 140-5 (L Nicholson 55), Bucks Dev U10 116-3.

Bucks Dev U10​ 148-8, Anglia U10 60.

Beds U10 89-6, Wessex U10​ 90-4.

Wessex U10​ 80-6, Beds Dev U10 72-7.

GIRLS

Worcs U17​ 139-7, Oxon U17 119-8.

Oxon U17 91-5, Worcs U17​ 92-4.

Beds U13​ 100, Saxons U13 59.

Hants U11​ 184-1, Oxon U11 64.