Oxfordshire opened their County Championships Division 2 Central programme with a nail-biting 8-7 win over Warwickshire 2nd at St Peter’s Catholic School, Solihull.

With the match all square at 7-7, Matt Jackson and Sarah Torgersen took the deciding mixed rubber 21-18, 15-21, 23-21 to snatch a thrilling victory.

Brodie Bambi Miller-Bong, 15, had been the only Oxon player to win her singles 21-12, 21-10 as Warwickshire established a 3-1 lead. Jack Smith battled hard in his men’s singles, but lost 21-19, 10-21, 17-21.

Miller-Bong and Sarah Torgersen won both their ladies’ doubles rubbers comfortably 21-15, 21-19 and 21-11, 21-9.

Maria Ioannou and Simone Fulle maintained the Oxon fightback by taking their two ladies’ doubles in three ends. Smith and Jonathan Campbell were defeated in both their men’s doubles.

But Matt Jackson and Paul Casey won one with a 21-17, 21-16 victory.

Going into the mixed doubles, the match stood at 6-6. Smith and Miller-Bong, who won all of her rubbers, put Oxon ahead with a 21-19, 21-15 success.

However, Campbell and Ioannou were defeated as Warwickshire hit back to level and take the match to the decider.

DIDCOT’S Safia Khimji teamed up with Northumberland’s Asmita Chaudhari to strike gold in the doubles at the Badminton England Kent Under 11 tournament at Tunbridge Wells.

They beat Essex’s Alicia Chu and Mia Hillsden 11-2, 11-6 in the final.

Khimji had earlier won silver in the singles when she was beaten in three sets by Chaudhari.

ABINGDON’S James Cackett won gold with Gloucestershire’s Rory Farwell in the boys’ doubles at the Badminton England Under 13 tournament at White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, Abingdon.

Cackett also took bronze in the singles and the mixed doubles with Oxford’s Saania Jayawant.

Brize Norton’s Joe Roberts and Witney’s Ashley Garrison won bronze in the under 17 boys’ doubles.