OXFORDSHIRE had no answer to Shropshire as they were well beaten in a heavy eight-wicket defeat at Shifnal in the Unicorns Counties Championship.

The visitors were always facing an uphill battle on the final day of the Western Division clash, trailing their hosts by 36 runs.

And, despite the efforts of James Fitzjohn and Harvey Eltham to frustrate the hosts, Oxon were dismissed for 196.

Shropshire then took just under an hour and a quarter to secure victory before 6pm.

With play starting early after a car crash at the entrance to the ground on Monday, Oxon resumed on 67-3.

Their bid did not get off to the best of starts as Olly Clarke and Harry Smith’s (39) fourth-wicket stand of 39 was ended when the former was caught by Will Parton at silly mid-off.

Oxon then slipped to 136-6 when captain Jonny Cater was trapped lbw by Alex Wyatt and Smith was dismissed by Jack McIver.

As a result, the visitors set about frustrating Shropshire and did so with some success for over an hour and a half.

During that time Eltham scored only ten runs off 84 balls in a seventh-wicket partnership of 43 with Fitzjohn.

It ended when Eltham was bowled by Dillon Pennington to leave Oxon on 179-7 in the 102nd over.

Horspath youngster Fitzjohn, who hit 39 off 184 deliveries during more than three hours at the crease, soon followed.

Oxon quickly slipped from 190-7 to 196 all out.

Rob Keat only faced two balls, before Brad Taylor was caught by Parton off the next delivery.

Shropshire needed 94 runs to secure victory and they wasted little time.

Cater stumped Omar Ali off Eltham to leave the hosts on 19-1.

But they were always in control as Parton and Steve Leach put on 64 to leave them in sight of victory.

Although the former was caught by Leo Bethell at mid-off, it only delayed the inevitable as Shropshire secured victory in the 23rd over.