Oxfordshire's opening Minor Counties Western Division match of the new campaign ended with a six-wicket defeat at the hands of Cornwall at Challow and Childrey yesterday.

Resuming their second innings just 22 runs ahead with seven wickets in hand, Oxon failed to master spin twins James Hands and Tom Sharp and their target of 107 proved easy meat for the visitors.

Simon Hole added only eight runs to his overnight 54 not out before falling to Hands, while the other overnight batsman, Adam Cook, fared better.

He made a patient 63, but lacked support from the lower order as Cornwall's spinners weaved their magic.

Oxon's cause was not helped when they were forced to declare on 203-9 because veteran seamer Keith Arnold was away from the ground for personal reasons.

Whether he would have made a great difference to the final total is debatable as left-armer Hands and off-spinner Sharp had a firm grip on the game.

Hands finished with 3-95 off 46 overs, 20 of which were maidens, while Sharp's reward was 4-54 off 38.4.

Jamie Hewitt struck an early blow for Oxon by having former Northants all-rounder Tony Penberthy caught by Hole for a duck, and then Arnold bagged two more wickets to cause a few jitters in the Cornish ranks.

However, the target was never going to be enough as the visitors walked off with 24 points to Oxon's six.