Two young players, with a combined age of 31 years, helped Oxfordshire build an almost impregnable position in their Unicorns Counties Championship top-of-the-table clash against Cornwall at Banbury yesterday.

Harrison Ward, aged 15, and Jordan Garrett, 16, added 98 for the third wicket in Oxon's second innings as the hosts took their lead to 382 in this Western Division match with a day to go.

Having secured a 112-run advantage on first innings, Oxon finished the day on 270-8 as they attempted to bat the leaders out of the game.

Resuming the day at 82-5 in response to Oxon’s first innings score of 284-8, Cornwall were eventually dismissed for 172.

Two of the wickets fell to young off-spinner Harvey Eltham, who finished with figures of 3-24 from 12 overs.

Skipper Luke Ryan claimed the last wicket of No 4 batsman Scott Harvey whose 36 took a marathon 132 balls.

With a healthy advantage, Oxon began their second innings scoring at four runs per over, despite the loss of Hugo Darby and Lloyd Sabin after cameo innings.

Ward, following his historic century against Herefordshire, this time made a fluent 81 from 146 balls, with 12 fours, before being caught behind off the left-arm spin of Brad Wadlan, who picked up a five-wicket haul.

Garrett was one short of a half-century before reverse-sweeping once too often and was bowled.

Following their dismissals, the Oxon innings got bogged down, with Joe White scoring 11 from 41 balls, before being run out at the bowler’s end after attemping a third run from a bye.

Oxon showed no urgency, their main aim being to stop all chance of a Cornwall win.

Having secured seven points to their opponents three, Oxon have edged a point clear of the west country side.