OXFORDSHIRE are in pole position to secure their first Western Division victory of the season after a strong second day against Devon.

Three wickets in the last hour restricted the visitors to 24-3, needing another 221 runs for victory on the final day of the Unicorns Counties Championship encounter.

Earlier, Miles Hammond hit 76 off 127 balls to help Oxon post 205 in their second innings at Banbury.

In the morning, seamer Leo Bethell (4-32) starred with the ball as the hosts dismissed Devon for 180 in 50 overs for a 39-run first-innings lead.

Resuming on 87-2 overnight, Devon got off to a bad start, falling to 115-5.

Zac Bess (40) and Tom Lammonby put up some resistance, with a sixth-wicket partnership of 46, but both fell in quick succession to spinner Harvey Eltham (3-59).

Devon then lost their last three wickets for just six runs as Bethell mopped up the tail.

Tom Condon was caught in the slips to leave Oxon on 39-1, but Lloyd Sabin (59) and Hammond put on 85 for the second wicket.

The former was dismissed by Josh Bess (3-37), who also removed Jordan Garrett for a first-ball duck.

Hammond, who hit ten fours and a six, steadied the ship alongside captain Jonny Cater, putting on 43 for the fourth wicket.

But the skipper was caught at mid-wicket, before Richard Kaufman followed, trapped leg before by Hugo Whitlock (4-23), to leave Oxon on 175-5.

Hammond was eventually dismissed, before the last three wickets tumbled for six runs.

Devon’s chase started horribly, falling to 6-2, before Luke Bess became the 21st wicket of the day as Oxon moved in sight of their first victory.