Staffordshire suffer blow to Unicorns Trophy hopes

Staffordshire were beaten by 51 runs by Oxfordshire as their Unicorns Trophy hopes took a severe blow.

They won the toss and elected to field at Bicester yesterday but unbeaten Oxfordshire reached 43 before losing a wicket.

Two more wickets quickly fell but Jonny Cater and Richard Kaufman got the hosts back on track with a fourth-wicket partnership of 83.

Cater went on to top-score with 80, Kaufman added 36 and Chad Keegan 28 as Oxfordshire compiled 219-7 in their 50 overs.

Craig Barker was the best of the Staffordshire attack with 3-35, while Calum Parkinson took 2-42 and there were wickets for Mitchell Spencer and Matthew Parkinson.

In reply, Staffodshire struggled with opener and skipper Kadeer Ali out for just two. Opening partner Alex Mellor followed for 14 and Tim Maxfield for three as the visitors slumped to 23-3.

Peter Wilshaw helped steady the ship with 37, and Michael Hill was unbeaten with a 65-ball but other wickets tumbled and Staffordshire were skittled for 168 in the 41st over. Richard West's 3-44 was the pick of the home bowling.

The result leaves Staffordshire second from bottom in Group four with a win and two defeats from their three matches.

They now have only a slim chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals with their final group fixture against Herefordshire at Himley looming on Sunday.