OXFORD were comprehensively beaten by Slough in their Home Counties Premier League Division 1 clash on Saturday.

Ian Crosby’s side were bowled out for 144, some 129 runs short of their target.

After asking their hosts to bat first, Oxford were soon up against it as Waqas Hussain and Nabil Shah shared a fine opening stand.

The Slough duo attacked from the off, although Hussain was lucky to survive one decision when he gloved one behind, but was given not out.

To compound Oxford’s woes, the batsman then blasted Stuart Hole for two big sixes in the very next over.

The partnership was eventually ended on 91 when Hussain was caught by Dan Bowyer off the the bowling of Francois Vain-ker.

Shah soon followed, snapped up by debutant Abidline Sakande off the bowling of Shami Mendis.

And when Mendis picked up his second wicket of the game soon afterwards, the match was in the balance with Slough on 132-3.

However, a fourth-wicket stand of 80 between Shaan Khan, who hit 68, and skipper Zaheer Sher (59) put the visitors back in control.

Slough ended on 273-5 off their 50 overs, Oxford’s luck summed up by the final ball of the innings.

A slower delivery by Mark Beer hit the helmet situated behind wicket-keeper Jasper Davies to hand the visitors five runs.

Oxford started their reply solidly enough, losing their first wicket on 45 when Andrew Clough was out leg before to Rishi Sharath.

But when Vainker was run out for 36 after a mix-up with Stewart Laudat, the hosts began to see their hopes of victory disappear.

Jamie Perkin was the only other batsmen to pass 20 as Oxford were eventually dismissed for 144 in the 45th over.