A SUPERB chanceless century from Richard Kaufman sped Oxfordshire into the quarter-finals of the Unicorns KO Trophy yesterday.

The 37-year-old all-rounder scored 122 not out to lead Oxon to a six-wicket victory over Hertfordshire at Welwyn Garden City and earnthem a last-eight tie at home to Suffolk at Banbury CC on Sunday, June 10.

Chasing 227 for victory, the visitors slipped to 8-2 as Harry Smith and Jamie Perkin fell to Tanvir Sikander.

But Kaufman and Jordan Garrett steadied the ship with a third-wicket stand of 115 in 142 balls, before the latter was trapped lbw for 45.

Oxon were now in charge, and skipper Jonny Cater joined Kaufman in another century stand.

The pair added 104 in 116 balls to see the side with 4.1 overs to spare.

Kaufman’s unbeaten 122 came off 155 balls and included one six and 14 fours, while Cater faced 47 balls for his 35 not out.

It completed a superb all-round match for Kaufman.

Earlier he and Joe Butcher had restricted the hosts to 226-9 after they got off to a flying start, having been put in to bat.

Oxon’s new recruit Gareth Andrew, who played more than 200 games of first-class cricket for Somerset Worcestershire and Hampshire, conceded 57 runs in his nine overs on his debut.

With Steve Gale leading the way, Herts raced to 109-2 in 20 overs, seemingly heading for a total of more than 250.

But young seamer Butcher, who returned figures of 4-34 from eight overs, and spinner Kaufman (3-27) tied the innings down, reducing them to 196-9.

The last pair of Ben Waring and Luke Chapman added 30 runs off six overs at the end, but it was not enough.