Oxfordshire ended their Middleton Cup campaign on a high note with a 115-97 win over Kent at Oxford City & County.

Oxon’s hopes of progressing from Group 2 Section B (South) had already been dashed after they lost their opening two encounters to Hampshire and Middlesex.

But they bounced back by winning away to Sussex and continued the revival by taking the points 18-4 against Kent.

Oxfordshire led by just one shot after 18 ends, but they finished with a real flourish to pick up 25 shots over the last three ends, while their opponents chalked up just eight.

Oxon won on three of the six rinks, drew on two others and suffered one defeat.

Greg Moon’s four of Nick Rae-Welsh, Barry Lambourne and Nathan Lewis led the way with a 21-11 win over skip Paul Barnicott.

Alan Prew’s rink of Bob Turley, who was awarded his Middleton Cup flash, Jason King and Mark Charlett also sparkled to beat Duncan Hanmore 22-14.

And Howard Watts’s side of Dean May, Gary May and Craig Nicoll overpowered Mark Johnson 23-17.

Baden Sparkes’s four of Mike Petersen, Will Campion and Robbie Clanfield let a healthy lead slip as they were held to a 19-19 draw by Jamie Dunn.

It was the reverse on Ian Snowdon’s rink of Keith Holloway, Ian Henwood and Shaun Claridge as they fought back for a 16-16 draw against Shaun McCaughan.

Oxon’s only defeat saw Mark Sykes unable to celebrate his 100 game badge as his side of AJ Docherty, George Moon and Richard Redford were beaten 20-14 by Gordon Charlton.

It took Oxon up to second place.

But they have now completed their programme and Hampshire will qualify if they score six points or more from their final match against Middlesex at Atherley on Saturday, July 9.

Middlesex will go through if they record 17 points or more.

Oxfordshire 115 (18pts), Kent 97 (4) (Oxon skips first): G Moon 21, P Barnicott 11; M Sykes 14, G Charlton 20; H Watts 23, M Johnson 17; I Snowdon 16, S McCaughan 16; A Prew 22, D Hanmore 14; B Sparkes 19, J Dunn 19.