An excellent all-round display from Damien Shirazi could not prevent Oxfordshire suffering a five-wicket defeat to Bedfordshire in their opening Minor Counties Trophy match at Ampthill yesterday.

The Banbury player scored a century and took three wickets, but he was overshadowed by Bedfordshire opener Alex Wakely, who hit an unbeaten 180 as the home county chased down their target of 278 with seven overs to spare.

At one stage it looked as though Oxon's total would be much less, as they made a desperately slow start after being put in to bat.

After 30 overs, they had scored only 92-3 on a pitch where the ball kept low.

Shirazi held the innings before reaching his century off 149 balls. The left-hander's 110 off 154 balls contained 11 fours and two sixes.

Thanks to aggressive inn-ings from Shahbaz Ali (46 off 58 balls), Jack Brooks (45 off 35) and Daniel Rowe (32 off 16), Oxon blasted the bowling late on to score 114 off the last ten overs to reach 277-7.

They were happy with this score, but it soon became apparent that it was not enough as Wakely, a former England under 19 captain, dominated all the bowlers.

He and James Knott, son of former England keeper Alan, put on 149 in 30 overs.

Only when Shirazi, the seventh bowler used, took three wickets did Beds stutter.

But Wakely remained unbea-ten to make Oxon suffer, scoring his runs off just 147 balls, with 25 fours and four sixes.