Bicester and North Oxford's new Australian import, Rod Davison, marked his Home Counties debut with a sparkling 86 against Reading on Saturday, but it was not quite enough to ensure victory.

Batting first, Bicester lost James France for a duck and Darryl Woods for 11, but then Davison and Oxfordshire skipper Rob Williams stopped the rot.

The pair put on 162 for the third wicket as the home side reached a 66-over total of 249-5. Davison finished with the top score of 86, while Williams contributed 75.

Reading also lost a quick wicket as Mark Stanway struck, but Lamsdale dropped anchor with a patient 63 not out as the visitors held on for a draw at 189-8.

Paul Jeacock was the most successful Bicester bowler with 3-62.

BICESTER & NORTH OXFORD

J France c Harvey b Batt...0

R Davison b Patel...86

D Woods b Sana...11

R Williams st Harvey b Patel...75

B France not out...24

I Hawtin b Edwards...13

B Chapman not out...8

Extras...32

Total (5 wkts, 66 ov)...249

Fall: 1-2, 2-26, 3-188, 4-204, 5-235.

Bowling: Batt 11-2-41-1, Sana 11-1-35-1, Edwards 9-2-29-1, Lamsdale 3-0-19-0, Hartley 10-0-45-0, Patel 22-3-69-2.

READING

J Perkins lbw Stanway...0

J Barber b Jeacock...33

T Fray run out...29

S Shaw b Stanway...7

P Lamsdale not out...63

S Patel b Jeacock...2

C Batt b Jeacock...7

N Harvey c Davison b Slade...4

H Sana lbw Slade...12

B Hartley not out...15

Extras...17

Total (8 wkts, 54ov)...189

Fall: 1-0, 2-66, 3-76, 4-90, 5-93, 6-109, 7-117, 8-139.

Bowlling: Stanway 14-1-54-2, B France 6-1-18-0, Jeacock 25-5-62-3, Slade 9-3-35-2, Davison 3-1-9-0.

**Bicester & N Oxford 14 pts, Reading 7