OXFORDSHIRE Under 15s crashed out of the ECB County Cup in the most dramatic and cruel fashion possible against Devon at Exmouth.

The game ended in a tie, but Oxfordshire were eliminated by virtue of losing one more wicket than their hosts - the wicket falling off the last ball with the scores level.

Devon batted first on winning the toss, and got off to a flying start, reaching 73-1 after just 15 overs.

But a clatter of wickets saw them rediced to 93-4, before they recovered to post a competitive 206-8.

Oxfordshire got off to the worst possible start in their reply, Stafford Sansome being caught brilliantly and then James Edwards controversially being give out.

The in-form Jack Taylor came to the crease, but even he went cheaply as Oxon slumped to 39-3.

Nat Watkins and Joshua Smith began the Oxfordshire recovery, putting on 104 for the fourth wicket, but when Smith fell for 45 and Watkins for 71, the home side were back in control.

With 29 runs required off 15 balls, Edmund Gross worked the ball around, while Amin Rafiq played some more belligerent strokes.

They got the scores level with one ball to go, but an attempt to scramble the final run off the last ball to snatch outright victory failed with Rafiq being run out in a dramatic conclusion.