Oxfordshire's semi-final hoodoo struck again as they crashed to a disastrous 157-run defeat aga-inst Norfolk at Norwich yesterday.

It’s the third year in a row that Oxon have fallen one step short of the final.

After restricting Norfolk to 235 all out, the visitors had high hopes of reaching the final at Durham’s Riverside Test ground.

But then their strong batting line-up collapsed and they were dismissed for just 78 in 29 overs.

“It’s really disappointing,” said skipper Ian Hawtin afterwards.

“We’d done really well to restrict them to 235, when at one stage they looked like getting near 300.

“But then we lost four early wickets and never recovered.

“Norfolk’s seamers bowled well, but I felt we let ourselves down to some extent.”

The hostsut in to bat on a hot, muggy morning.

The Norfolk openers hit out from the start, and smashed Oxon’s leading paceman Stuart Hole out of the attack after just two overs.

It was only when Oxon took the pace off the ball in the form of Keith Arnold and Paul McMahon that they gained a measure of control.

The 49-year-old Arnold was again the pick of the bowlers conceding only 27 overs in his ten overs and collecting two important wickets.

For Norfolk, former Kent and Leicestershire batsmsman Trevor Ward top-scored with 60, while good supporting innings’ took them to 198-4 off 39 overs.

They looked ike getting at least 280 at that stage.

But some fine bowling plus two run outs saw the home side slip to to 235 all out with 15 balls not used.

Oxon’s optimism was soon dented as Richard Kaufman was caught at slip and Craig Haupt was trapped leg before for a duck.

With Damian Shirazi and Nathan Hawkes also going cheaply, they were wobbling at 27-4.

There was to be no heroic recovery this time. The last hope went when the unfortunate Hole was run out for a duck.

All that faced Oxon was a long journey home.