Oxfordshire finished their Middleton Cup warm-up matches with a win and a narrow defeat as they prepare for their opening fixture away to Hampshire on June 7.

A commanding display from skipper Baden Sparkes set up a 118-111 victory away to Northants at Kettering, Sparkes winning 26-9.

The following day, Oxon gave a full-strength Warwickshire side a run for their money, before being pipped 121-120.

Mark Charlett skipped his rink to an impressive 32-16 win over Stuart Thomas, who won the national indoor pairs this year.

Oxon 118, Northants 111 (Oxon skips first): C Whitehead 18, N McKee 18; P Justin 18, P Broderick 27; A Ley 18, M Allen 14; B Sparkes 26, J Hall 9; G Moon 21, J Haines 17; B Foster 17, T James 26.

Oxon 120, Warwicks 121 (Oxon skips 1st): M Charlett 32, S Thomas 16; A Prew 19, T Francis 27; R Hewson 24, M Clarke 13; R Clanfield 21, A Smith 18; C Carpenter 14, M Hawkins 23; G Moon 24, G Ashby 17.