Brad Sutherland and Adam Hall shared a century opening partnership to set Oxford on the way to a five-run victory at Amersham in the Royal London Club Championship first round.

Sutherland, who made 62 from 67 balls with eight fours, and Hall (45) put on 117 for the first wicket after Oxford won the toss and elected to bat.

But the visitors then collapsed to 181-8, and it was only an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 52 between Henry Pickford (26no) and Richard Musk (24no) which enabled Oxford to post a challenging 233-8 from 45 overs as Robbie Marsh took 4-34.

Adam Ali (81) and Stuart Rogers (55) put on 99 for Amersham's first wicket.

But Oxford, with Sean Thornton taking 1-27 from his nine overs, held them to 228-5, and they will now entertain Richmond on Sunday, May 10.

Sport

Banbury, depleted by having six players on Oxfordshire duty, fell at the first hurdle with a three-wicket defeat at Market Harborough.

The north Oxfordshire side were bowled out for 183 after winning the toss and deciding to bat.

William Briggs (43) top-scored as Zain Mir (3-19) and Max Collins (3-30) did the damage.

Market Harborough got home at 186-7 with five balls to spare.

Joe Gordon (40), Fin Clarke (37) and Sam Williams (36) provided the backbone of the innings, while Jimmy Phillips conceded just 20 runs from nine wicket-less overs.

SCORES

Oxford 233-8 (45ovs, B Sutherland 62, A Hall 45, R Marsh 4-34), Amersham 228-5 (45ovs, A Ali 81, S Rogers 55, L Jackson 30no).

Banbury 183 (44ovs, W Briggs 43, Z Mir 3-19, M Collins 3-30), Mark Harborough 186-7 (44.1ovs, J Gordon 40, F Clarke 37, S Williams 36).