WILTSHIRE CCC produced a dismal performance to lose to Oxfordshire at Banbury in their first Minor Counties Championship match of 2005 by a massive margin of 257 runs.
In last week's encounter, Oxfordshire won the toss and batted and were soon in trouble when, in the second over of the innings, Kevin Nash clean bowled both Keith Mustow and Craig Haupt with his first two balls.
Oxford subsided to 31-4 and then 130-6 before Adam Cook (99no) and skipper Ian Hawtin (45) took the score to 250.
Richard Bedbrook took 5-84, Kevin Nash 2-34 and James Golding 2-18. In reply, the Wiltshire innings stuttered on the first evening as they lost four wickets for 104 with Baqar Rizvi out in the last over of the day for 45.
But 17-year-old Eddie Abel had batted steadily through the overs on his debut to finish 29 not out.
On the second day, Wiltshire lost wickets steadily and were all out for 198 with Abel making 34, Bedbrook 33, Golding 22 and Michael Coles 23. For Oxford, Joe Porter took 4-27 and Lynch 4-56.
However, Wiltshire bowled poorly in the second innings on a wicket taking considerable turn. And they lost Kevin Nash to a hamstring injury in the fifth over.
The hosts were able to declare at 349-6 after 67 overs, leaving Wiltshire ten overs and the whole of the third day to score 402 to win.
Oxford's main contributors were Charlie Knightley with 102, Adam Cook 75 and Keith Mustow unbeaten on 50.
Having survived the ten overs on the second day without losing a wicket, on the final day Wiltshire succumbed to 144 all out before lunch.
Only Eddie Abel, with 38 off 34 overs, showed any real application in an innings of great promise as slow, left-arm bowler Joe Porter took 6-36. At the finish, Oxfordshire picked up 24 points and Wiltshire just five.
Wiltshire County CC will now be looking to bounce back to winning ways after suffering that heavy defeat against Oxfordshire in the Championship when they take on Buckinghamshire in the Minor Counties Knockout Cup competition at Beaconsfield on Sunday, June 12.
However, Kevin Nash, who was injured against Oxfordshire, is still unfit and James Hayward is unavailable because of his A- levels.
There are, though, first appearances of the season for Jon Chandler, Richard Foley and Toby Sharpe.
Team v Buckinghamshire: Russell Rowe (South Wilts) (captain), Neil Shardlow (Corsham) (vice-captain), Eddie Abel (South Wilts), Richard Bedbrook (Beckenham), Jon Chandler (South Wilts), Mike Coles (Bridgwater), Richard Foley (Corsham), James Golding (Keynsham), James Hibberd (B A T Sports), Baqar Rizvi (Spencer), Toby Sharpe (Corsham).
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