Jonny Cater hit an unbeaten century and Francois Vainker took six more Cornwall wickets – making it 13 in the match – to give Oxfordshire a chance of victory in their Western Division clash at Truro.

Resuming on 170-6 in their first innings yesterday, in reply to Cornwall’s 202, Oxfordshire made 210 for an eight-run lead, with Cater compiling a superb 109 not out.

Things looked bleak for Oxon as Cornwall cruised to 150-0 in their second innings.

But then the hosts suffered a dramatic collapse to be bowled out for 235, with Vainker taking 6-90 to finish with terrific match figures of 13-155.

That left Oxon 228 to win, and at the close they were 11-1.

Earlier in the day, Cater carried on where he had left off on Sunday, while Ashley Blanchard fell lbw to left-arm spinner Neil Ivamy without addition to his overnight score.

Ivamy then bowled Vainker, but Penhale stuck around to enable Cater to reach his century, before the Oxon paceman was trapped lbw by Shakil Ahmed’s left-arm spin.

And when Woods was caught at silly mid on by Dan Davis off Ivamy, Oxon were all out.

Cater’s runs came off 186 balls and included nine fours and four sixes, while Ivamy (5-69) and Ahmed (5-77) shared the wickets.

Oxfordshire were then frustrated by Cornwall openers Taylor Williams and Scott Harvey on what had become a benign pitch.

But Blanchard made a double breakthrough just before tea by winning lbw appeals against Williams, who made 65 off 190 balls with seven fours, and Davis to leave Cornwall 152-2.

When play resumed, the pitch suddenly started to produce sharp turn and Vainker took full advantage.

He had Harvey caught by Penhale at short leg for 79 off 211 balls, and then bowled Christian Purchase.

Richard Kaufman snapped up a catch at slip off Vainker to remove Tom Hughes.

And Oxfordshire skipper Luke Ryan got in on the act by trapping Neil Curnow lbw with his left-arm spin.

Cornwall captain Gary Thomas lobbed a simple caught and bowled chance back to Vainker, who then had Ahmed and Callum Wilson caught at short leg by Penhale.

Ryan finished the innings off when Kevin Snell holed out to Jamie Perkin on the long on boundary.

That left Oxon 14 overs to face before the close, but they lost Kaufman, who hit an Ivamy delivery to Thomas at mid off.

Scores: Cornwall 202 & 235 (S Harvey 79, T Williams 65, F Vainker 6-90), Oxfordshire 210 (J Cater 109no, N Ivamy 5-69, S Ahmed 5-77) & 11-1.