Oxfordshire are up against it after the second day of their three-day Minor Counties Championship opener against Shopshire at Thame.

Replying to the visitors' first innings total of 277-6 declared, Oxon were bowled out for just 156.

Oxfordshire's Giles Peddy plays the ball into the on side at Thame yesterday

And although Rob Williams's men recovered well to have Shropshire struggling at 105-6 in their second innings, the home side start the final day of this Western Division clash as clear second favourites.

Already 226 runs behind, they will not want to be chasing much more than 250 on a wicket which is providing assistance to both the spinners and the quicker bowlers.

One of Oxon's big three batsmen - skipper Williams, Stewart Laudat and Charlie Knightley - needed to make a major contribution today if the hosts were to start their 2001 Championship campaign with a win.

Resuming on their overnight total of 27-1, Oxfordshire quickly lost Patrick Jobson, Knightley and Keith Mustow to be in some trouble at 55-4.

Williams and Laudat staged a mini-recovery, before Laudat was bowled driving loosely.

And when Williams was out attempting to hit the ball over the top, Oxon were 116-6 and their hopes of posting a decent total looked remote.

Cumnor's Adam Cook showed grit and concentration in making an unbeaten 31 off 101 deliveries, but he received little support at the other end.

It was especially disappointing to see the highly-rated Shahbaz Ali miss out again with the bat.

The noisy and likeable all-rounder has yet to do himself justice for the county, but there was a feeling that having already made three centuries for Banbury this season, this might be Shahbaz's moment to break through.

Spinner Andy Johnson cleaned up the Oxon tail in style, claiming the wickets of Giles Peddy and new boys Ian Adams and Paul White in the space of ten deliveries to finish with figures of 5-21 from 21.5 overs.

But Peddy was to get his revenge with the ball. The former Oxford off-spinner, now playing for Hampstead in the Middlesex League, bowled unchanged for 25 overs in the Shropshire second innings.

Peddy ended the day with 3-32, while Championship debutant White also impressed by taking 1-17 from 11 overs of left-arm spin.

The pair needed to be on the mark straight away again today if Oxon are to stand a chance of winning this one.

OXFORDSHIRE

First Innings

(Overnight 27-1)

K Mustow b Downes...30

I Hawtin c E Home b Boden...4

P Jobson b Evans...11

C Knightley c Mumford b Evans...0

R Williams c Marvell b Johnson...40

S Laudat b Shantry...23

A Cook not out...31

Shahbaz Ali c Marvell b Johnson...3

G Peddy lbw Johnson...3

I Adams b Johnson...0

P White b Johnson...0

Extras...11

Total (all out, 81.5 ovs)...156

Fall: 1-6, 2-43, 3-43, 4-55, 5-96, 6-116, 7-135, 8-150, 9-150.

Bowling: Evans 22-7-40-2, Boden 15-6-33-1, Downes 8-2-29-1, Shantry 12-4-24-1, Johnson 21.5-12-21-5, G Home 3-1-2-0.

SHROPSHIRE

First Innings: 277-6 dec (Marvell 141no, White 3-49)

Second Innings

E Home c Williams b Peddy...10

B Jones b Laudat...5

M Marvell b Peddy...42

J Ralph b Laudat...10

A Johnson lbw Peddy...15

M Downes c Cook b White...5

G Home not out...7

K Evans not out...7

Extras...4

Total (6 wkts, 50 ovs)...105

Fall: 1-15, 2-19, 3-37, 4-83, 5-84, 6-96.

Bowling: Laudat 9-2-32-2, Peddy 25-9-32-3, Adams 5-120-0, White 11-3-17-1.

Oxfordshire 2 pts, Shropshire 7

** Antony Moore