Oxfordshire face a long, hard slog if they are to avoid defeat to Devon in their Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash at Great & Little Tew today.

They trailed Devon by 405 runs with nine wickets in hand when bad light stopped play after being outgunned for a second day running.

It will probably require at least two batsmen to make centuries if Oxon are to pull off a great escape, but that looks highly unlikely.

Having been set a mammoth 438 runs to secure victory after Devon finally declared on 291-8, Oxfordshire really needed to make it to the close with ten wickets intact.

But Damian Shirazi was adjudged lbw to Trevor Anning, having shouldered arms.

Resuming on 52-6, Oxon lost David Smith without adding to the score as he offered a simple catch to Bobby Dawson at slip.

Chad Keegan and Ian Hawtin soon followed and the hosts were facing real embarrassment at 68-9.

But Ashley Blanchard and Matt Taylor batted sensibly to help Oxfordshire avoid the follow on by four runs in reaching 105 all out.

Blanchard finished as top scorer on 27, while Taylor was only the third home batsman to reach double figures.

James Overton was the pick of Devon’s bowlers on day two, taking 3-17 in seven overs to finish with 3-42.

Devon, who had a lead of 146, made steady progress in their second innings.

Then a 138-run third-wicket partnership between James Burke and Dawson really confirmed their dominance.

Burke had been dropped three times on his way to 96, so perhaps justice was done when he pulled a Richard West full toss to Taylor, who held on well.

Dawson was also eyeing a century before he went for one big hit too many and holed out to Jimmy Phillips at deep square leg off West on 78.

Devon kept slogging, which helped West pick up five wickets, finishing with 5-91.

He and fellow Banbury off-spinner Phillips bowled unchanged after tea.

Devon looked to have more than enough to declare and appeared to be taking liberties when their tailenders went for several reverse sweeps.

However, at 6.30pm, they did finally call it day on 291-8 to leave Oxon trailing by 437 and facing a tricky spell at the crease.

Scores: Devon 251 & 291-8dec (J Burke 96, B Dawson 78, R West 5-91), Oxfordshire 105 & 32-1.