OXFORDSHIRE climbed to second in Division 3 of the ECB Royal London Women’s One Day County Championship following successive victories.

Lauren Down hit her first county half-century during a seven-wicket win over Northamptonshire at Great Oakley.

A day earlier they had beaten Norfolk by eight wickets at Bicester & North Oxford.

After electing to field against Northants, the visitors’ tight bowling and fielding saw them dismiss their hosts for 109 in 44.2 overs.

Lucy Gladdy returned figures of 4-13, while Down and Ellie Noble took two wickets each.

Down then hit 60 not out to help reach the total in 22.5 overs.

At home to Norfolk, the visitors won the toss and chose to bat, but Oxon’s bowlers were in fine form to skittle their opponents for 82, Charley Noble taking 3-12.

Down hit 33 from 37 balls before being stumped, but Oxon were comfortable and eased home in 15.3 overs.

BEN Desmond took 5-12 in five overs as Oxfordshire Under 11s beat Wiltshire by 58 runs in a friendly at Bloxham School.

Oxon elected to bat and got off to a steady start, reaching 50 without loss.

Alex Laird led the way with 39 as wickets began to fall at regular intervals, before they were dismissed for 152 all out.

Wiltshire got off to a great start, reaching 57-0 off 13 overs, but Desmond led a spirited fight back from Oxon, removing both openers in the first over after the break.

The visitors went on to lose regular wickets from there on, falling to 94 all out.

Meanwhile, Oxon Under 15s fell to a narrow one-wicket defeat to Somerset in the ECB League at Bloxham School.

Jake Taylor (50) and Sammy Lion-Cachet (44) put on a partnership of 92 for Oxon in the Group 4A encounter.

Charlie Elliott (27) and George Tait (25) then helped them post a respectable 215.

In reply, Somerset slumped to 170-8.

However, a last-wicket partnership of 21 helped them over the line with four balls to spare.

OXFORDSHIRE girls Under 17s enjoyed two victories at Cambridge in the T20 league.

A ten-wicket win over Hertfordshire was followed up by a 74-run success against Cambridgeshire to leave them top of Group 3.

After restricting Hertfordshire to 77-5, Oxon openers Lucy Thomas (37no) and Rebecca Woodnorth (20no) made light work of the target.

Against Cambridgeshire, Rachel Potter (39) and Deanna Stamp (34no) steered Oxon to 117-4.

Jess Newport then took 2-7 as the hosts never looked like chasing down the target.