A DEPLETED Oxfordshire Under 17s lost by 38 runs on first innings in their ECB County Championship match against Shropshire in Whitchurch.

With three regulars in Harrison Ward, Jordan Garrett and Harvey Eltham on first team duty, Oxfordshire were always up against it.

But they produced a battling performance to finish just short in their first-innings run chase.

Losing the toss, Oxon were in the field on day one, and the hosts were in good touch as they reached 216-2.

But the introduction of left-armer Graham Beer (5-35) for a second spell turned the tide as Shropshire collapsed to 258 all out, losing their last eight wickets for 42 runs.

With constant rain delays, the home side’s opening bowlers could bowl long spells between the breaks.

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And it worked in their favour as Jack Garmson took 7-76 in 22.2 overs.

Under 15 Archie Spittles top-scored for Oxon with 52, while Sulaiman Hussain (37) and Harry Thomas (31) also shone, but they were all out for 220 to lose on first innings.

When Shropshire batted again, they closed on 150-1.

OXFORDSHIRE Under 17s’ defence of the Royal London One Day Cup came to an end after their final group game against Shropshire was washed out yesterday.

Victory would have put Oxon joint top with Bucks, but the heavy rain meant no play was possible.

A THREADBARE Oxfordshire Academy were comprehensively thrashed by 273 runs by the Club Cricket Conference Under 25 side in a friendly at Stonesfield.

Oxfordshire were hit by mass unavailability and even had to call on the services of home groundsman Andy Crawford to keep wicket.

The home side lost the toss and CCC rattled up an enormous total of 380-5 in their 50 overs.

Richard Walters smashed 162 not out, while Waqas Hussain bludgeoned his way to 103 in just 75 balls.

Oxon then crashed to 107 all out, although Aston Rowant’s Tom Condon hit an entertaining 54.

BEN Charlesworth (71) and Tomas Bacon (50) couldn't save Oxon Under 14s from an 18-run defeat against Bedfordshire in their ECB County Cup Group 2 game at Potton Town.

Scores: Bedfordshire U14 228-7 (45 ovs, R Sheemar 69, F Ahmed 36, P Brooke 36), Oxon 210-9 (45 ovs, B Charlesworth 71, T Bacon 50, Y Khan 4-34, A Rennie 3-28).

FRIENDLY MATCHES

Oxon U13 181-7 (40 ovs, G Miller 73, D White 39), Worcestershire 182-9 (40 ovs, H Akram 32, B Porter 3-39).

Wiltshire U12 199 (40 ovs, E Wade 76, R Glover 54, S Chown 4-16), Oxon 200-9 (39.1 ovs, D Jarvis 67).

Berkshire U11 141-8 (40 ovs, F Selby-Lowndes 3-22), Oxon 143-5 (36.1 ovs, Z Lion-Cachet 85no, W Laird 32, F Catherwood-Smith 3-2).

Berkshire U10 91 (32 ovs, R Lewis 36no, B Desmond 3-4), Oxon 45 (21.5 ovs, H Ishaq 4-4, A Bovill 3-7).