A dropped catch and missed half-chance cost Oxford UCCE over 300 runs on the opening day of the three-day match with Gloucestershire in The Parks yesterday.

The county without Oxford-born Tim Hancock who has a hand injury, took full advantage of the lapses, to bat all day for 483-6 against a side weakened by the absence of opening bowler Tom Mees.

It gave Alan Gofton the rare opportunity to share the new ball and he gave Oxford the perfect start by sending back Craig Spearman with his third delivery.

At 13-1, Matthew Windows firmly late-cut Toby Sharpe through the raised hands of Jamie Dalrymple at slip and he went on to add 73 with Chris Taylor and 180 with Mark Hardinges before being caught for 145 which contained three sixes and 16 boundaries.

Hardinges was dropped by Tom Hicks at slip when on six and he celebrated with the most punishing batting of the day. The all-rounder, whose previous highest first-class score was 22, went on to hit 172, before skying a catch.

It ended a partnership of 131 with veteran Jack Russell, who was unbeaten with 63.