Jamie Hewitt will be hoping for better fortune when he gets a second chance to captain Oxfordshire in cup action on Sunday.

The player-coach and former Middlesex and Kent seamer skippered the side on his debut in their Twenty20 thrashing against Oxford UCCE on Tuesday night.

And with regular captain Ian Hawtin still holidaying in Menorca, Hewitt will lead them again in their opening MCCA Trophy clash with Cumberland at Sedbergh School.

Banbury wicket-keeper Danny Harding replaces Hawtin behind the stumps after deputising in The Parks.

The absent captain is looking for Oxon to improve on their recent cup form.

Speaking from Menorca, he said: "We are hoping that we can come through the first round and progress in the competition, which we have not done for a few years."

Oxon lost to Wales by 46 runs in a high-scoring encounter at White Post Road last year, and as in 2004 received a bye into this year's second round.

Cumberland finished seventh in the Minor Counties Championship Eastern Division last year, while Oxon were eighth in the Western Division.

But having beaten Buckinghamshire, who finished third in their league in 2004 in their opener this week, Cumberland will enter the 50 overs game in good spirits.

On Sunday, Oxon will be without batsman Charlie Knightley and all-rounder Joe Porter, who both excelled in their fine league win over Wiltshire.

The 257-run win at Banbury was a real team effort and included an unlucky 99 not out for Oxford's Adam Cook.

More of the same will give them a good chance and it is perhaps a blessing that only half of those who crumbled against Oxford UCCE are in Sunday's side.

Team manager Jack Potter said: "It's a big game because if you win three times, you play at Lord's.

"They've not played up there before this year so the pitch will be quite slow.

"Joe got 6-37 to give him ten wickets in the last match and Charlie got a century.

"But we still have a strong side so we'll see what happens."

Oxfordshire (v Cumberland): Hewitt (Whitstable, capt), Arnold (Banbury Twenty), Lynch (Bicester & North Oxford), Cook (Oxford), Laudat (Oxford), Mustow (Cheltenham), Harding (Banbury), Kaufman (Banbury), Phillips (Banbury), St Hole (Shipton-under-Wychwood), Haupt (Banbury).