Ian Hawtin was trapped lbw just two balls before the close to cap at eventful second day for Oxfordshire at Challow & Childrey yesterday.

And if his team are to complete a memorable victory over much-fancied Devon in the Western Division encounter today, much will depend on Joe Porter, with whom the captain rescued Oxon's faltering second innings.

Porter finished 30 not out in a score of 172-7 and Hawtin believes the all-rounder will need to bat through to the end of the innings if they are to build a defendable lead.

Devon hit 296 all out in response to Oxon's first innings of 325-9, but bowled well to restrict the home side's lead to 201 at stumps.

Hawtin said: "Joe Porter is our main batsman left and he will have to take responsibility.

"He's a good cricketer and I'm sure he can do the job."

Porter and Hawtin (39) steered Oxon from 100-6 to 168-6, before visiting skipper Rob Dawson claimed his opposite number's wicket with only his fourth ball of the match.

Hawtin said: "Getting out two balls before the end of play was disappointing after we had batted pretty well to get out of a sticky situation."

Devon began the day on 82-2, but needed useful knocks from David Court at No 7 and No 9 Trevor Anning to reach 296.

Court smashed 63 off 75 balls, while Anning was even more prolific with 34 off 35 balls.

Keith Arnold (2-55 off 17 overs) was his usual economic self, while Jimmy Phillips finished with 3-51 from 11 overs.

Court was denied another boundary by an unorthodox and inadvertant stop from Adam Cook at short leg.

The Oxford man was hit full on the helmet from close range, but recovered sufficiently to open the batting.

Having scored 118 in the first innings, he promptly fell to a second ball duck and fellow opener Stewart Laudat was caught by Andy Pugh to leave his side 14-2.

Banbury pair Craig Haupt (39) and Richard Kaufman (29) steadied the ship, but Oxon then slipped from 80-2 to 100-6.

Devon's twin spin attack of former Oxon bowler Arwyn Jones and Andy Procter kept the run rate at no more than three an over as Porter and Hawtin dug in.

Hawtin, in particular, eased the pressure with some well-timed boundaries, but was trapped by Dawson's medium pace, having just cut him for four from the previous ball.

Jones closed with 3-44 off 23 overs to increase his wickets tally to seven on his return to Oxfordshire, while Procter picked up 1-57 from 19 overs. OXFORDSHIRE

First Innings: 325-9 (90 ovs, A Cook 118, S Laudat 71, C Haupt 50) .

Second Innings

A Cook c Dawson b Hancock...0

S Laudat c Pugh b Bishop...7

C Haupt lbw Procter...39

R Kaufman c Bishop b Jones...29

C Knightley c Bishop b Jones...6

J Porter not out...30

J Hewitt c Anning b Jones...9

I Hawtin lbw Dawson...39

St Hole not out...0

Extras...13

Total (7 wkts, 58 ovs)...172

Fall: 1-0, 2-14, 3-80, 4-90, 5-90, 6-100, 7-168.

Bowling: Hancock 4-0-23-1, Bishop 7-1-25-1, Procter 19-2-57-1, Jones 23-7-44-3, Suppiah 5-2-7-1, Dawson 1-0-7-1.

DEVON

First Innings

(Overnight 82-2)

R Dawson c Knightley b Hole...49

A Pugh c Hawtin b Hewitt...42

C Mole c Cook b Porter...17

N Hancock lbw Phillips...23

D Court lbw Hewitt...63

A Procter c Phillips b Arnold...15

T Anning c Hole b Phillips...34

I Bishop lbw Phillips...10

A Jones not out...0

Extras...15

Total (all out, 75.1 ovs)...296

Fall: 3-115, 4-142, 5-162, 6-198, 7-215, 8-276, 9-296.

Bowling: Arnold 17-4-55-2, St Hole 20-7-65-2, Hewitt 8.1-0-50-2, Porter 19-2-68-1, Phillips 11-3-51-3.

Oxfordshire 8pts, Devon 7