A STUBBORN partnership by Cornwall's ninth pair Kevin Wilcock and Carl Gazzard thwarted Oxfordshire's hopes of their first win in the Minor Counties Championship at Christ Church yesterday.

When Gazzard joined Wilcock, it looked odds-on a home win with 49 required off seven overs, but they put the shutters up and the West Countrymen finished on 214-8, 30 short of the target.

Oxfordshire took a firm grip after Keith Arnold, Graham Savin and Arwyn Jones captured early wickets.

And when the dangerous Gary Thomas was snapped up, leaving Cornwall 63-4, Oxfordshire were cruising.

But after Tom Sharp and Barry Purchase added 46 for the fifth wic- ket, Wilcock found useful support from the lower order batsmen.

Wilcock put on 43 with Purchase and 40 with Chris Ellison but when Arnold returned and dismissed Ellison, Cornwall settled for a draw.

Earlier, Oxfordshire produced their best batting of the season following Cornwall's overnight declaration at 166-7.

Bruce Ellison led the run spree with an unbeaten maiden century which contained 14 boundaries off 165 balls.

Ian Hawtin assisted him in an opening partnership of 85 and the momentum was carried on by Stewart Laudat and Rob Williams, who plundered 98 runs with Ellison before skipper Rupert Evans declared at 251-2.

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