OXFORDSHIRE fell short of a competitive Buckinghamshire total as they suffered their second NCCA Trophy defeat in a row.

The hosts posted an imposing 254/9 in their 50 overs at Gerrards Cross CC and that proved beyond Rupert Evans’s side, who could only manage 215 all out.

It saw Oxon fall two places to fourth ahead of Sunday’s final Group 4 game against Bedfordshire at Aston Rowant CC.

The visitors put their opponents into bat after winning the toss and started well, Robbie Shurmer and Joe Butcher claiming early wickets to leave the hosts 44/2.

Shurmer picked up another scalp when Alexander Woodland was caught behind off his bowling, before Joe Thomas and George Tait got involved as Bucks were reduced to 125/6.

Alexei Kervezee had already played himself in and the No 4 was joined by Cameron Parsons for a partnership that proved crucial.

The pair put on 110 as Kervezee went on to score an unbeaten 115, giving Oxon a daunting target.

Openers Tom Cosford and Freddie Smith were dismissed in consecutive overs as the visitors fell to 22/2, but Harrison Ward and Tom Haynes steered them back on track with an 82-run partnership.

Haynes was the first to go, for 24, and although Ward made 63 he soon followed, with Olly Clarke also falling.

Oxon needed 108 with a little more than 16 overs left and captain Jonny Cater hauled them towards the total with 45 (68).

But the wickets began falling too regularly and Cater eventually departed with Oxon still 52 runs from victory.

Butcher and Shurmer were the last to go, leaving the away side needing to beat Bedfordshire.