Oxfordshire are facing the unpalatable prospect of a winless campaign in the Minor Counties Championship after the first day of their final Western Division game of the season.

A powerful Herefordshire side tumbled out Oxon for just 91 on a rain-affected day at Banbury.

And although fiery new-ball spells from Stewart Laudat and Keith Arnold then reduced the visitors to 14-4, they recovered to close on 197-8.

It was the fifth time in their six Championship games this season that Oxfordshire have conceded a first-innings lead.

Oxon had made an untroubled start to their innings after losing the toss and being inserted.

Laudat, playing his first Championship game since the defeat by Shropshire at Thame in May, looked in wonderful form early on.

He took a liking to the express pace of former Worcestershire seamer Paul Thomas, hitting five boundaries in the opening overs.

But from a relatively prosperous 38-0, Oxon subsided to 43-4.

And it didn't get much better.

Only Shahbaz Ali of the remaining batsmen reached double figures as Kevin Cooper picked up five wickets with some classy seam bowling.

The former Nottinghamshire man received good support from the aggressive Paul Humphries, who gave young Tim Smith a particularly severe examination.

Smith, who was making his Oxfordshire debut along with fellow Banbury teenager Jimmy Phillips, batted for 32 balls for his one run, but he got a real working over from Humphries and showed guts to last as long as he did.

Herefordshire, who caused a massive shock earlier this season when they beat Middlesex in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, were soon in dire straits when they replied.

Laudat, bowling with nip and swing, took three early wickets, including one of the most athletic caught-and-bowled efforts one could ever imagine seeing.

Meanwhile, Arnold, who is still struggling with the pelvic injury that forced him to miss the first half of the campaign, bowled with menace for his first few overs.

It must have been a delight for Oxfordshire followers to see opposition batsmen hopping around and playing and missing.

But it did not last. As the shine went off the new ball, so batting became easier, and the visitors were able to establish a first innings lead that is likely to prove decisive.

OXFORDSHIRE

1st innings

S Laudat c Roberts b Cooper...22

R Eason c Dawood b Humphries...10

B Thompson c Hughes b Humphries...0

R Williams lbw Cooper...3

A Cook lbw Cooper...8

Shahbaz Ali c Boroughs b Cooper...11

T Smith c Dawood b Humphries...1

I Hawtin c Davies b Humphries...4

K Arnold c Dawood b Cooper...8

P Jeacock not out...7

J Phillips c Dawood b Thomas...8

Extras...9

Total (all out, 41.1 ovs)...91

Fall: 1-38, 2-38, 3-38, 4-43, 5-62, 6-63, 7-65, 8-72, 9-80.

Bowling: Cooper 21-10-35-5, Thomas 3.1-1-31-1, Humphries 17-8-24-4.

HEREFORDSHIRE

1st Innings

H Patel c Hawtin b Laudat...0

R Hughes c Eason b Laudat...2

K Pearson lbw Arnold...0

C Boroughs b Arnold...58

I Dawood c & b Laudat...2

G Roberts c Hawtin b Arnold...36

P Sarfaraz b Laudat...44

N Davies not out...32

P Thomas lbw Arnold...1

K Cooper not out...1

Extras...21

Total (8 wkts, 47.1 ovs)...197

Fall: 1-9, 2-10, 3-10, 4-14, 5-83, 6-140, 7-194, 8-195.

Bowling: Arnold 20-4-73-4, Laudat 16-0-51-4, Thompson 4-0-23-0, Jeacock 4-0-25-0, Williams 3-0-12-0.

Bonus points: Oxfordshire 3, Herefordshire 5.