HUGO Darby scored 92 as Oxfordshire hold the upper hand against Cornwall after the first day of their Unicorns Counties Championship clash at Banbury.

Jonny Cater (80) and Luke Ryan (51) were also amongst the runs as Oxon declared on 284-8 in the Western Division match.

All four Oxon bowlers then took wickets to restrict Cornwall to 82-5 at the close, with Ryan claiming two in as many balls.

The hosts did not get off to the best of starts as Harrison Ward was dismissed off his first ball.

After Lloyd Sabin and Jordan Garrett also fell, Darby and Cater steadied the innings with a fourth wicket stand of 74.

Eventually Darby was run out for 92 off 175 balls.

Joe White and Chad Keegan fell cheaply, before a seventh-wicket partnership of 90 between Cater and Ryan proved crucial.

Cater’s innings of 80, off 161 balls, which included eight fours, ended when he was caught by Jake Libby on the boundary at the second attempt off the bowling of Neil Ivamy.

Ryan was stumped by Scott Harvey after hitting 51 off 82 balls.

Oxon struck early after their declaration, before Matthew Rowe and Matthew Robins put on 46 for the second wicket.

But Oxon hit back with four late wickets giving them the advantage going into day two.