Oxfordshire v Cheshire Day 3

Day 3: Cheshire 119 & 108-9, Oxfordshire 424-8 dec. Oxfordshire won by an innings and 197 runs.

Oxfordshire 24 points, Cheshire 3 points

Scorecard & video highlights Western Division 1 Table

Cheshire slumped to a heavy defeat in their opening Western Division Championship game with Oxfordshire.

Out of sorts throughout, they eventually fell by an innings and 197 runs at lunchtime and took just three points from the game.

A much changed side was up against it from day one having posted just 119 in the first innings. Oxfordshire's 424-8 declared left a mountain to climb and Cheshire's best prospect the rain coming slightly earlier than planned on day three.

With Zac Perren unable to bat having broken a hand in the field on day one and having lost Tom Hafill the night before in the dark, Owen Feakes (26) and Luke Young (21) showed decent resistance early on.

Sam Perry was well set on 30 too before out padding up and from 88-5, there was a procession of wickets.

Harry Derden(18) looked his old self as he hit some lusty blows before being spectacualry caught on the boundary by Tristan Rossouw to be last man out.

Tom Hinley took a fine 5-25 for the hosts and Tom Davis 3-29. 

It was a young side with a number of high-profile absentees and there will have been plenty of learnings for the players and plenty for Dearden to ponder ahead of a showcase game this weekend at Nantwich with Derbyshire and then a three day game a week later with runaway leaders, Berkshire. 

It then doesn't get any easier with Berkshire then the visitors again, for a 50 over KO Trophy semi-final.