OXFORD’S disastrous Division 1 season plum-bed new depths as they crashed to 40 all out – a club record lowest score – in a humiliating nine-wicket defeat at Welwyn Garden City.

It came just a week after Ian Crosby’s basement boys were shot out for only 58 in a 237-run drubbing at home to Henley.

That meagre total threatened the 47 they made against Basingstoke & North Hants in 2003.

But the Welwyn walloping superceded that effort.

Oxford had no answer to Gavin Baker, who ripped through their brittle batting to finish with match-winning figures of 7-10 off 11 overs.

It was a procession from the moment Welwyn won the toss and decided to bowl, with Daniel King and Chris Sandbach quickly back in the pavilion, the latter run out. New signing, South African batsman Ryan Canning, couldn’t halt the slide, making just four.

Only Stewart Laudat (12) reached double figures as Oxford capitulated inside 27.3 overs, with their total also the lowest Welwyn had bowled a side out for, bettering their rout of Chorleywood for 67 in 2003.

Welwyn then strolled to victory at 42-1 off 9.1 overs for a very early finish.