OXFORDSHIRE, who had Dorset reeling at 41-7 before lunch, ended the first day of their Unicorns Counties Championship Western Division match at Bournemouth with only a narrow advantage.

The home side recovered to 136 all out and reduced Oxon to 126-5 by the close.

After choosing to bat first, Dorset were stifled by the visitors six-man attack, all of whom took wickets on an overcast morning.

Brad Taylor dismissed both openers, Leo Bethell, Joe Thomas, debutant Joe Butcher and Richard Kaufman all claimed victims as the home side crawled to 41-7 from 35 overs.

They were supported by some smart fielding with James Fitzjohn (cover) and Lloyd Sabin (slip) each taking two good catches.

Dorset’s eighth-wicket pair of Jigar Naik and Mark Wolstenholme led the recovery with a stand of 87 before Ollie Clarke polished off the innings for 136 in 72 overs.

Oxon started well with openers Sabin and Clarke adding 73, before former Leicestershire play Naik made his second significant contribution of the day.

After dismissing Clarke for 21, the off-spinner then took four wickets in as many overs to reduce Oxon from 97-1 to 114-5

Included among his victims were Sabin for 66, which included three sixes, and skipper Jonny Cater, as they finished the day ten runs behind.