A magnificent seven-wicket haul from Stuart Hole helped wrap up an 84-run win for Oxford against Harpenden on Saturday in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League.

The seamer captured 7-24 as the opposition were skittled for just 48 in reply to Oxford’s modest 132.

Asked to bat first in overcast conditions, Oxford lost Stefan Van Dyk in the first over and both openers were back in the pavilion with only five runs on the board.

And it got even worse as they were left in all kinds of trouble at 19-5 after Chris Arnold claimed a hat-trick with the fourth, fifth and sixth balls of the eighth over.

Further wickets fell and after 26 overs Oxford were hanging on at 57-9.

But when Shamilal Mendis was the joined by last man Philip Evans, they survived until lunch.

They went on to add an invaluable partnership of 75 – Oxford’s record tenth-wicket stand – before the visitors were dismissed for 132 in the 58th over.

In reply, Hole ripped into the Harpenden batting with a superb spell of seam bowling producing his best figures of 7-24.

He was backed up by Van Dyk (3-23), with Jonno Evans taking four catches behind the stumps.

Harpenden lost their last eight wickets for 12 runs as they were rolled over for 48 in only the 21st over, as Oxford moved up to second.