OXFORDSHIRE Over 50s B reached the Southern Counties Seniors Championship final for the first time with a four-wicket win over Dorset at Aston Rowant.

Batting first, Dorset needed just 16 overs to reach 100, thanks to a quickfire 72 from Tim Horn, but when he was dismissed the visitors’ run rate dropped considerably.

Shaun Miller took 3-29 off his nine overs and Stuart Bullen claimed 2-28 as Dorset were all out for 196 after 42.3 overs.

Oxon, in their debut season, got off to a flying start with 17 runs off the first over, but lost wickets at regular intervals.

With the score at 99-5 the match looked finely poised, but a 44-run stand from David Warner and Steve Bowles steadied the innings for the hosts.

Warner (51no) and Miller then put on an unbeaten 54 to see Oxon to victory with five overs to spare.

They will now face Hampshire in the final on September 9.

OXFORDSHIRE went down to back-toback defeats at the hands of Durham and the Netherlands in Division 3 of the ECB Women’s County Championship.

A strong Durham side trounced the hosts by eight wickets at Bicester & North Oxford, skittling Oxon for just 99, before making short work of the target.

The visit of the Netherlands proved to be a much closer affair.

Ellie Norton (3-12) and Ellie Noble (3-23) helped dismiss the visitors for 188, but Oxon fell seven runs short with Rachael Potter (35) top-scoring.