OXFORDSHIRE will be eyeing a morale-boosting victory in the shorter format when they take on Buckinghamshire this weekend.
Four defeats in the Unicorns Counties T20 competition mean the side are not able to progress from Group 2.
But they head into Sunday’s double header against Bucks at Banbury 20 buoyed by last week’s victory – albeit in a one-day match.
Richard Kaufman’s unbeaten century steered Oxon into the quarter-finals of the Unicorns KO Trophy.
The all-rounder is involved again this weekend, while the county make three changes from the side which suffered defeats to Shropshire in Shrewsbury earlier this month.
Great & Little Tew batsman Joe White returns alongside Banbury duo Olly Clarke and Brad Taylor.
The trio replace Oxford MCCU’s Harry Adair, Aston Rowant’s Leo Bethell and Tew’s Joe Thomas.
Captain Jonny Cater is hoping the younger players will use their selection as an opportunity to stake a claim for the longer format.
He said: "The side this weekend is a little different to the one which played last week.
"But it gives our young guys an opportunity to impress and push a case in the 50-over games and the three-day format stuff which starts in June.
"Bucks are in a relatively good position.
"They've got a very strong side out, but that doesn't mean to say we can't compete against these guys.
"We were unfortunate not to win the first game against Herefordshire and that knocked the stuffing out of the players.
"In Shropshire we were out played in both games and we learnt a real tough lesson in both."
SUNDAY’S TEAM
Oxon: J Cater (Buckingham Tn), L Brock (Gt & Little Tew), J Butcher (Abingdon Vale), O Clarke (Banbury), T Condon (Aston Rowant), H Eltham (Oxford), R Kaufman (Old Northamptonians), H Smith (Gt & Little Tew), B Taylor (Banbury), C Watling (Aston Rowant), J White (Gt & Little Tew).
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