Jack Potter's Oxfordshire got their season off to a winning start with a three-wicket victory over Oxford Universities in Saturday's friendly in The Parks.

Playing their first game under their new coach, Oxon bowled out the Universities for 172 and then knocked off the required runs for the loss of seven wickets.

Banbury opener Craig Haupt top-scored for Oxfordshire with 47, an innings containing nine fours.

Skipper Rob Williams also impressed, his knock of 32 steadying the ship after his side had collapsed from a comfortable 75-1 to a precarious 81-4.

Earlier, debtutant Ian Adams had made a dream start to his county career.

The tall Banbury seamer took a wicket with his - and the game's - very first delivery, and then bagged another in his second over.

Stewart Laudat also claimed an early victim as the students were left reeling at 5-3.

Former Radley College pupil Jamie Dalrymple - an England Under 19 player contracted to Middlesex - and Andy Bones led the recovery, before medium pacer Mike Bellhouse put Oxfordshire back on top.

OXFORD UNIVERSITIES

H Jones lbw Adams...0

S Lowe b Adams...0

J Dalrymple lbw Bellhouse...47

J Porter c Haupt b Laudat...0

A Bones run out...40

N Millar b Bellhouse...1

T Hicks b Taylor...2

Salman Khan c Evans b Jeacock...23

T Mees b Bellhouse...9

J Tailor not out...10

A Birkett b Laudat...5

Extras...35

Total (all out, 49.2 overs)...172

Fall: 1-0, 2-3, 3-5, 4-98, 5-102, 6-107, 7-143, 8-146, 9-163.

Bowling: Adams 5-1-27-2, Laudat 9.2-1-21-2, Bellhouse 10-1-42-3, Taylor 8-0-32-1, Evans 10-2-26-0, Jeacock 7-3-15-1.

OXFORDSHIRE

C Haupt c Mees b Dalrymple...47

S Laudat c Bones b Salman Khan...3

B Thompson lbw Hicks...16

C Knightley c Salman Khan b Hicks...0

R Williams c Bones b Dalrymple...32

D Taylor lbw Tailor...20

A Cook b Mees...12

M Bellhouse not out...13

I Evans not out...3

Extras...27

Total (7 wkts, 48.2 ovs)...173

Fall: 1-6, 2-75, 3-75, 4-81, 5-105, 6-145, 7-156.

Bowling: Mees 10-2-27-1, Salman Khan 10-1-31-1, Birkett 3-0-20-0, Hicks 10-0-27-2, Dalrymple 9-1-35-2, Tailor 4-1-16-1, Porter 2.2-0-10-0.

*Oxfordshire's friendly with Henley this Saturday has been cancelled because the south Oxfordshire club's riverside ground is too wet.