Skipper Luke Ryan played a key role to help a much-changed Oxfordshire team share the honours on the first day of their Unicorns Counties Championship match against Herefordshire at Brockhampton.

Ryan scored a rousing half-century to help Oxon recover from 188-8 to reach 271, and then took two late wickets as the hosts finished the day on 120-3.

Oxon were forced to make three late changes to their original line-up.

Opening batsman Joe White withdrew due to a family bereavement, seamer Andy Harris cracked a finger while playing for Great & Little Tew the previous day, and Will Beer was required by Sussex.

In came two young debutants – 16-year-old Great & Little Tew batsman Jordan Garrett, Buckingham all-rounder Jack Wilkins, along with Oxford off-spinner Harvey Eltham.

Another youngster Harrison Ward was soon in the fray after Herefordshire invited their visitors to bat first.

The 15-year-old, the second youngest player to represent Oxfordshire, shared an opening stand of 28 with Hugo Darby.

Ward was second out at 32, having made seven from 42 balls.

The early part of the Oxon innings was held together by Richard Kaufman, who shared half-century partnerships with both Lloyd Sabin and Garrett, who scored a composed 22 off 72 balls on his debut.

The off-spin of Ali Jahangir caused a collapse which left Oxon perilously placed on 188-8.

Then Ryan rode to the rescue, striking an unbeaten 58 from 67 balls, with 12 fours.

He dominated a ninth-wicket stand of 79 with Karl Penhale (26) before Oxon were all out in the 82nd over, Jahangir taking 5-94.

Openers Matt Pardoe and Liam Gwynne gave Herefordshire’s reply a flying start as they flayed the Oxon seam attack in a stand of 76.

The innings was hauled back by Ryan, who took two wickets, and by a debut Championship wicket for Eltham.