Skipper Luke Ryan believes Chad Keegan’s experience in the shortest format of the game could prove pivotal as Oxfordshire take part in the inaugural Unicorns Counties T20 competition on Sunday.

While Oxfordshire are making their competitive T20 debut, Keegan played 33 games during his time at Middlesex and Sussex.

And Ryan is hoping the all-rounder will have a big influence as his side travel to Eastnor, in Herefordshire, where they will take on Shropshire in a Group 2 semi-final at 1pm.

The victors will meet the winners of the other semi-final between Herefordshire and Wales Minor Counties in the final at 4pm.

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Oxon stick to the first-choice side which has taken them to the quarterfinals of the Unicorns Counties Trophy, with Banbury seamer Karl Penhale back in place of Will Rooney.

Ryan said: “We feel very confident in the limited-overs format, and hopefully we will take the 50 overs form into the 20 overs.”

He added that they may make adjustments to how they approach the game, with one eye on how they utilise Keegan’s experience of this format.

He added: “Maybe there will be a bit of a change in the batting order and tactics when certain bowlers bowl.

“I think we have got a number of experienced batters.

“Chad is instrumental in any format and has played a bit of Twenty20 cricket recently with Sussex very successfully.

“With his batting as well as his bowling it is going to be quite important how we use him.”

Much will also be expected from opening batsman Hugo Darby after his blistering century for Banbury in the ECB Twenty20 Home Counties quarter-final against High Wycombe on Monday.

The group winners at Eastnor, will go straight through to finals day at Banbury on July 12, along with two other champions plus the winners of a play-off between the group winners from Harpenden (Hertfordshire) and Sawston (Cambridgeshire).

Ryan added: “It is great for Banbury to be hosting that and it would be even better with more people there, and the buzz around the day, if we are involved.”

Oxfordshire: L Ryan (Banbury) capt, A Blanchard (Banbury), J Cater (Buckingham), H Darby (Banbury), R Kaufman (Old Northamptonians), C Keegan (Henley), K Penhale (Banbury), L Sabin (Banbury), R West (Banbury), J White (Great & Little Tew), O Wright (Banbury).