OXFORDSHIRE spinner Jimmy Phillips picked up the joint bowling award at the Four-Counties Twenty20 Tournament held at Burnham opn Sunday.

The young Oxon side finished third in the contest against Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and hosts Buckinghamshire.

But Phillips shared the bowling prize with Hertfordshire's Murti Hussain, after both finished with identical figures of 7-73 from their three round-robin matches.

Oxon, fielding a weakened side due to club commitments, won their opening match against Bedfordshire.

Luke Ryan was top scorer with 51, while Ed Phillips made 37 as Oxon scored 165-7 from their 20 overs.

Jimmy Phillips then took 4-24 and Ollie Murrey 3-33 as their opponents were restricted to 154-9.

That was the end of Oxon's success. In their next match, Hertfordshire rattled up 175-6, with Steve Cordingley making 84. Murrey picked up another three-wicket haul.

Ed Phillips again batted well for 39 in Oxon's reply of 142-8.

Oxon's final game was something of a disaster as they slumped to 96 all out, with Bucks knocking off the runs in 11.3 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Hertfordshire retained their title by winning all three matches, Bucks were second followed by Oxon and Beds, who lost every game.