Devon's class told in the end yesterday as they beat Oxfordshire by six wickets in the Minor Counties Championship Western Division at Challow & Childrey.

But even at lunch the game looked in the balance with Devon 28-1 and chasing 254 for victory.

Oxon's last-wicket stand of 33 between Stuart Hole and Keith Arnold helped take them from 172-7 overnight to 224 all out and a chance of victory.

Devon's top order had other ideas, and 50s from Arul Suppiah, Chris Mole and captain Bobby Dawson meant Richard Kaufman's two late wickets were a mere consolation.

Oxon skipper Ian Hawtin said: "It was disappointing to lose. I think it went back to yesterday really.

"In our second innings we probably should've scored more. I didn't think we batted particularly well.

"In the first innings I thought we did better, but we competed throughout, which was good.

"They are the best side in the division and we have not lost by a million miles."

Joe Porter proved Oxon's top scorer in their second innings with 42 and was unlucky to be stumped off wicket-keeper Mole's pads.

His overnight partner Hole hit a useful 31, which suggested he could bat further up the order in future matches.

A lead of just 254 meant every run was priceless in the field and, at times, Oxfordshire could have done with a bit more urgency.

But while Devon spinners Arwyn Jones and Andy Procter exerted admirable control on a wicket suited to slow bowling, the home side struggled to do the same.

Former Oxon man Jones, in particular, showed what the home side were missing with 4-64 off 31 overs for match figures of 7-108.

Aside from the ever-economic Arnold, Oxon gave the visiting batsmen too many scoring shots after lunch as a potentially tight match veered towards a Devon procession.

Suppiah reached 50 off just 42 balls before mis-hitting a to Porter at square leg.

But Dawson simply took up where his teammate had left off, strolling his way to the close with a succession of classy boundaries.

Kaufman trapped Mole and Pugh lbw in the same over, but the runs kept coming and Neil Hancock hit the winning boundary half an hour later.

Hole produced another good display with the ball, but Hewitt, Phillips and Porter were more expensive than Oxon could afford.