OXFORDSHIRE hold the upper hand in their Unicorns Counties Championship Western Division match against Dorset after the opening day at Aston Rowant, writes JACK JOHNSON.

Lloyd Sabin top-scored with 70 in Oxfordshire’s 345 all out, despite the best efforts of Mark Wolstenholme, who took 5-56.

Oxfordshire’s Andy Harris and Chad Keegan restricted the visitors to 50-2 to give the hosts a 295-run lead.

Darby (57) and Michael Beard (46) shared an opening stand of 101, before Luke Ryan (57), Jonny Cater (50) and Keegan (30) also starred with the bat.

After opting to bat, Oxfordshire soon got into their rhythm.

Darby was adding to his tally with ease, while Beard calmly constructed his innings.

Two runs through mid off brought up Darby’s 50, before he smashed a four through extra cover to bring up a century for the opening partnership.

But the visitors finally got the breakthrough in the 34th over when Darby played on off Rupert Kitzinger.

Oxfordshire lost two wickets in quick succession after lunch, with Beard edging to Chris Park off Wolstenholme, and Richard Kaufman trapped leg before by Jacob Lintott.

Sabin and Cater looked to stabilise the ship, the latter hitting successive fours.

Cater then smashed two more boundaries off Kitzinger as the hosts moved to 169-3.

Sabin hit a huge six off Jem Warner, before Cater, who amassed ten boundaries to score 50 off 53 balls, was caught mid wicket by Michael Porter off Thomson, who then dismissed Joe White for three.

All-rounder Keegan wasted little time to get going, smacking four boundaries in as many minutes.

However, he was caught by Porter off James Hayman, after putting on a sixth-wicket stand of 43 with Sabin.

Banbury’s Sabin brought up his half-century just after tea, but was then dismissed lbw by Wolstenholme.

Ryan hit two fours in the 84th over to steer Oxfordshire past 300, but Wolstenholme sent Harvey Eltham, making his Championship debut, back to the pavilion for seven.

Ryan’s sixth four of the day earned him his half-century before he was bowled by Wolstenholme.

The Dorset paceman then skittled Will Rooney for a duck as Oxfordshire’s innings ended on 345.

Oxfordshire were left with 18 overs to bowl and they got off to an impressive start.

Seamer Harris took his first Championship wicket on his second appearance by trapping Porter leg before for six.

And before Dorset could add another run, Keegan caught and bowled Massor Khan in the 16th over to end the day on a high.