Will Beer played the key role as Oxfordshire took firm charge off their Unicorns Counties Championship match against Wales MC at Great & Little Tew.

The Sussex all-rounder hit an unbeaten 57 on day two of the Western Division clash to take Oxon to 376-9 – a first-innings lead of 138 runs.

And then the leg-spinner took 4-34 to reduce Wales from 80-0 to 106-4 at the close – a deficit still of 32.

Resuming on 35-1 in reply to Wales’s 238 all out, Oxon made good progress with nightwatchman Andy Harris hitting a maiden Championship half-century on his home ground before being caught at slip off Nick Davies.

His 51 came off 73 balls with eight fours.

Michael Beard made 81 from 166 deliveries with 12 boundaries when he was next to go, lbw to Jeremy Lawler.

Lloyd Sabin weighed in with 77 off 104 balls with nine fours and two sixes, before Beer ensured Oxon had a commanding advantage by smashing 57 from 59 deliveries with six fours and one maximum.

He then removed the top four Wales batsmen, finishing on a high by dismissing Gareth Ansell with the last ball of the day.