WORCESTERSHIRE over 60s crashed by 190 runs to Oxfordshire at Worcester’s Old Elizabethans in the County Championship.

The visitors won the toss and batted first, with Ian Caunce plundering the County attack with well-struck blows, supported by Derek Watts.

Oxfordshire reached 119-0 after 22 overs, with Bob Pittaway bowling well – his nine overs costing 39 runs.

Rob Hawk bowled Watts (36), with Martin Woodward taking the other two wickets, including Caunce, whose 146 came from 124 balls with 12 fours and eight sixes.

Oxfordshire closed on 288-3, with Julian Lawton-Smith adding a useful 46.

Worcestershire scored seven runs from the opening over with Brian Pleass stroking the first ball for four.

But the bowlers then found their line and length as C Ricks and T Spindler took five wickets in 12 overs and the score stuttered to 25-5.

Pleass scored a few more boundaries until caught and bowled by David Beck for 19.

Skipper Woodward batted through the innings, reaching 26 not out with Worcestershire on 98-9.

The County then lost at group leaders Buckinghamshire by 11 runs in Beaconsfield.

Conditions favoured the bowling side, with a strong breeze, a pitch with little bounce and quite lengthy grass on the outfield.

The County’s five bowlers were precise, backed up by good fielding.

Pittaway and Pleass helped to remove the openers via run-outs, while Hawk, John Raybould and Pittaway bowled nine overs for just 20, 13 and 20 runs respectively.

Woodward and Colin Hemsley took seven more wickets with three and four respectively, helped by two good catches from Robin Lloyd as the hosts closed on 126-9.

The County batsmen faced precise and accurate bowling and tight fielding.

Openers Hemsley and Pleass lost their wickets through ill-judged attacking shots, then Steve Daniels and Lloyd put together the best stand of the innings.

But the need for runs created pressure, with Daniels (20) caught in the deep and Lloyd (21) bowled.

Woodward, Hawk and Pittaway did their utmost to garner the required runs but to no avail.