Rain brought a premature end to Oxford's Division 1 clash at Hemel Hempstead - but not before the visitors' batsmen once again demonstrated their inability to play a major innings after establishing themselves at the crease.

Pat JobsonA delayed start due to rain saw the game between last year's respective Division 2 East and West champions reduced to a 100-overs contest.

Oxford were inserted on a green, seaming Heath Park wicket and lost Stewart Laudat lbw for ten.

But after that it was a familiar tale as Oxford's talented array of strokemakers got in - and then got out.

Keith Mustow fell to a superb one-handed diving catch by Simon Lavers at gully off Duncan Howard with the score on 81.

And two overs before lunch, Pat Jobson hit a long hop from Ifzal Nawaz straight to Neil Morgan at square leg, to leave Oxford 87-3.

Adam Cook then smashed a delivery from Anthony Lynch to mid-on, making it 115-4.

Shahbaz Ali became Waterman's second victim on 128.

And Ian Crosby had only just got off the mark when he was caught behind by Rhys Fowler off Lynch to make it 147-6.

Ian Evans and Robbie Eason were repairing the damage when the heavens opened and the match was washed out with Oxford 168-6.

OXFORD

S Laudat lbw Waterman...10

K Mustow c Lavers b Howard...34

P Jobson c Morgan b Ifzal Nawaz...35

Shahbaz Ali c Wright b Waterman...28

A Cook c Howard b Lynch...19

I Crosby c Fowler b Lynch...1

I Evans not out...14

R Eason not out...14

Extras...13

Total (6 wkts, 55 ovs)...168

Fall: 1-34, 2-81, 3-87, 4-115, 5-128, 6-147.

Bowling: Waterman 14-1-56-2, Howard 16-4-46-1, Ifzal Nawaz 5-0-18-1, Wright 7-3-18-0, Lynch 9-3-23-2.

Hemel Hempstead 6pts, Oxford 6