A six-wicket haul from seamer Stuart Hole saw Oxford record a thrilling one-run victory against Tring Park at Rover Cowley on Saturday in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League - Division 1.
Hole finished with 6-43, but it was Shami Mendis who took the crucial final wicket when Luke Cherry was caught by Ian Evans.
Inserted by the visitors, Oxford looked in no toruble at 33-0 off ten overs, before a disastrous collapse saw them crash to 65-5 and 77-7.
But Jonno Evans (36) and Shami Mendis (30) added 60 for the eighth wicket as Oxford were finally dismissed for 168.
In reply, Tring were soon in trouble at 5-2.
Hole bowled William Jones in the first over and then Keith Dutch was caught at slip by Chris Sandbach off Stefan Van Dyk in the second.
Payne was then caught at slip by Sandbach off Hole.
Hole then trapped Kyle Nipper lbw, before Paul Atkins fell the same way to Stewart Laudat.
That left Tring on 63-5, and when the lower middle order put together some valuable partnerships, the result was very much in the balance.
At 165-8, Tring were odds-on to claim victory, but George Harper was caught behind off Hole for 35.
Then, needing just two runs for victory, Cherry was caught by Ian Evans at mid-on off Mendis to give Oxford an unlikely win.
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