Oxfordshire crashed to an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Wales in yesterday's NatWest Trophy second round tie at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, writes Richard Tilley.

Chasing a meagre total of 120 all out off 49.1 overs, the home side cruised to victory with 14.3 overs in hand.

Oxon had made a disastrous start after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Stewart Laudat and Craig Haupt were out from consecutive deliveries to leave Oxon struggling at seven for two in the fourth over. Laudat was bowled by a beauty of a ball from John Derrick which nipped back into him.

South African born left-hander Haupt then went first ball, getting an edge to a delivery which left him, and former Glamorgan wicketkeeper Colin Metson took a fine low catch.

Opener Keith Mustow and skipper Rob Williams took the score to 40 before Mustow skied a catch to mid-on off ex-Glamorgan seamer Steve Barwick.

Three runs later, Williams was bowled by one which kept low from West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons, playing for Wales as a professional.

Youngsters Adam Cook and Ben Thompson batted with maturity but both fell to slightly controversial decisions. Thompson was stumped when he looked to be back in his crease and Cook was given out LBW to a ball that seemed to pitch outside leg stump. When Luke List was stumped off a wide, Oxfordshire were 76 for seven and really struggling.

But wicketkeeper Brooks made sure that the visitors passed the 100 mark with 23 - Oxon's top score.

It was all rather too easy for Wales in reply.

Oxon desperately needed to take early wickets, but with the exception of the characteristically immaculate Keith Arnold, the bowling was lacking in either direction or penetration.

Wales lost opener Mike Newbold to a run-out with the score on 83. On any other day, Arnold's dismissal of James Langworth - caught down the leg side to leave the hosts 96 for two - would have had Oxon entertaining faint hopes of a comeback. But the wicket only brought the huge figure of Simmons to the crease.

The ex-test star announced himself with a huge six off Paul Jeacock to get off the mark and then smashed List for four through extra cover for the winning runs.

Scorecard: Oxon 120 all out, Wales 122 for two.