OXFORDSHIRE 329-8 & 278-5dec (24pts) beat DORSET 319 & 125 (6pts) by 163 runs

SHELLSHOCKED Sean Walbridge hailed Oxfordshire bowler Chad Keegan after Dorset slumped to a 163-run defeat on the final day of their Minor Counties Western Division clash at Dean Park.

South African Keegan finished with astonishing match figures of 13 for 155 as Dorset were blitzed for just 125 in their second innings.

Walbridge, whose side cannot now defend the championship title they won last season, told the Echo: “I’m very disappointed as we batted poorly.

“Fair play to Oxfordshire because Chad Keegan bowled brilliantly throughout the match and was the difference between the two sides.

“From a result point of view, we didn’t get stuck in and to be bowled out for 125 is pretty poor.

“We will be looking for a big improvement when we go to Wales in two weeks’ time.”

Having closed day two on 106-3 – a lead of 116 – the visitors lost Rob Williams early on.

But Jamie Perkin followed up his first innings of 122 – in which he shared a fifth-wicket stand of 215 alongside Jonny Cater (98) – with another century, finishing unbeaten on 107 as Oxfordshire declared on 278-5.

James Hayman finished with figures of 2-55, with Matt Metcalfe (2-40) also helping Dorset’s cause.

But having been set a daunting 288 to win in an afternoon, the remainder of the clash was all about Dorset holding their nerve for a draw.

George Adolphus departed for a duck as the hosts got off to the worst possible start and they were soon languishing on 47-5 after Glyn Treagus (11), Aaron Williams (9), Tom Jacques (8) and Darren Cowley (8) all departed cheaply.

Masoor Khan rallied to finish unbeaten on 50, but Keegan mopped up the tail for figures of 6-32 to add to his first innings haul of 7-123.

Walbridge added: “We have faced the fact that we are not going to retain the title, but we now have to find that bit of confidence and form which can see us have a positive end to the season.”