OXFORDSHIRE’S convincing win over Bedfordshire was not enough for a place in the NCCA Trophy quarter-finals.

Rupert Evans’s side beat the visitors by seven wickets at Aston Rowant CC, but they could only finish third in Group 4 after Berkshire’s nine-wicket victory over Buckinghamshire.

After bowing out of the 50-over competition Oxon’s attention turns to the three-day game, with Cheshire visiting Banbury CC in Western Division 1 from July 25.

Oxon won the toss and elected to field, but Bedfordshire started quickly and passed 50 in the seventh over.

Robbie Shurmer made the breakthrough for the hosts when he bowled Eddie Ballard for 24, only for James Kettleborough and opener Callum Berrill to push their side towards the 100 mark.

Joe Thomas trapped the No 3 lbw with Bedfordshire on 92 and the wickets began to tumble.

Berrill was run out by Alex Chapman, who then bowled George Thurstance, while Thomas removed Matt Taylor and Matt Coles to leave the visitors 114/6.

George Darlow and Kashif Ali built a small partnership but they departed in quick succession as Bedfordshire fell to 145/8.

Jack Fuller’s quickfire 34 pushed the away side up to 176 all out, with the weather giving Oxon 43 overs to reach their total.

Openers Harry Smith and Tom Cosford got the hosts off to a good start and they never looked back.

The pair put on 65 before Cosford was removed for 40 in the 14th over, with new man Tom Haynes settling quickly.

Smith departed for 35 to leave Oxon 93/2 and Harrison Ward came in, fresh from making his Sussex debut at Lord’s last week.

The No 4 added a further 18, before captain Jonny Cater came in to join Haynes.

Oxon were still 52 runs short but they had almost half their overs in hand and the pair chipped away at the total.

Cater sealed victory with a six at the start of the 35th over as the hosts ended the competition on a high.