MCCA Trophy

Oxfordshire will come up against their former all-rounder Dave Taylor when they face Dorset at Weymouth in Sunday’s final Group 3 match.

Taylor, who played club cricket for Kidlington, Banbury and Henley, joined Dorset this season.

Having last played for Oxon when he made 84 in their 2008 semi-final defeat to Berkshire, Taylor could now ensure his old team’s demise in this year’s competition.

Taylor confirmed he was playing on Sunday, but added: “I’m not sure how much else I should say.”

However, the equation is simple for Oxfordshire – victory, no matter by what margin – against the group leaders will propel Ian Hawtin’s men into the quarter-finals.

Having begun with an inauspicious fewer wickets defeat to Hertfordshire at Challow, this is certainly a position Hawtin is happy to be in.

“Whoever wins on Sunday will go through,” said Hawtin.

“It gives a great finish to the group and we are looking forward to it.

“We have played some good cricket so far. Hopefully the debacle at Challow won’t come home to roost.

“We want to go there and win.”

Oxon make one change, with Richard Gilbert replacing fellow Oxford seamer Stuart Hole, who is unavailable.

They go into Sunday’s match on the back of an impressive victory over Herefordshire at Radley College on a day when rain could have scuppered their chances.

Oxon dismissed the visitors for 138 in 38.3 overs, which gave them enough time to bat for a nine-run victory under the Duckworth Lewis Method.

Had they taken longer to bowl Herefordshire out, it is unlikely Oxfordshire would have been able to face the ten overs required for a result to stand before the rain came.

Hawtin said: “The spinners, Luke Ryan and Jack Taylor, bowled particularly well last week and we took our chances in the field.

“The wicket was doing quite a lot, but we managed to stay ahead of the Duckworth Lewis rate and get the win.”

Dorset are unbeaten with two victories and looked likely to win their first match against Hertfordshire.

Oxfordshire: Sandbach (Oxford), Shirazi (Banbury), Hawkes (Banbury), Williams (Leamington Spa), Smith (Wollaton), Kaufman (Old Northamptonians), Hawtin (capt, Banbury), Rowe (Swansea), Gilbert (Oxford), Ryan (Banbury), Taylor (Keynsham).