OXTON

GERRY Hardstaff, the Cheshire chairman, admitted he was "very frustrated" that his county's Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash with Oxfordshire had been abandoned due to heavy rain.

Cheshire needed to win at Banbury to boost their chances of qualification's for next season's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, but had to settle for 10 points instead of a possible 20.

But because of a waterlogged pitch, which had only seen eight overs of action on the previous day, Hardstaff and his team were denied the chance to take full points.

"It would have been a contrived finish on the last day if both sides wanted to get a result, but there was nothing we could do. We really needed a win."

Having won the toss and elected to bat Cheshire posted a healthy 365-5, on Sunday, with Graeme Archer, the former Nottinghamshire player, top-scoring with an unbeaten 121 - his first century for Cheshire.

But having restricted the hosts to 100-3, rain halted any chance of Cheshire relieving any of the pressure on themselves ahead of their last match of the season, against Shropshire, at Chester Boughton Hall (22-24 August).

"Shropshire will want to beat us and we need a result as well, so it makes for an interesting game.

"They have strengthened for this season, but they are by no means invincible. Hopefully we can bat first and get some runs on the board to put pressure on them. It's a big match for both counties."

Indeed, and Hardstaff admits Cheshire could make a series of changes to their team for the Shropshire clash next weekend.

Professional Simon Renshaw is likely to return to the ranks, while there are three people all in contention for the coveted wicketkeeping place.

Widnes captain Ian Spencer is still nursing an ankle-injury, but is still very much in the frame to play, while debutante Matt Dawson - who kept at Oxfordshire - and Stephen Ogilby, the Ireland international gloveman, could also be selected.

"Alexis Twigg has chipped a bone on his left knuckle, so we are waiting on his fitness. Ian (Spencer) is injured as well, which means we will have to review that situation, especially with Matt Dawson doing so well and (Stephen) Ogilby coming back into the frame."

Minor Counties Championship - Western Division (Banbury, Day 3 of 3).

Cheshire 1st innings: 365-5 (Archer 121 not out, Leech 74, Twigg 53, Hall 53)

Oxfordshire 1st innings: 100-3.

Cheshire won the toss and elected to bat.

RESULT: Match abandoned due to rain. Cheshire 10pts, Oxforshire 7pts.

MINOR COUNTIES Championship: Final day of three: Luton: Buckinghamshire 325-5; Bedfordshire 268 (J A Knott 107, Z A Shar 6 for 83). Match drawn. Finchampstead: Wales Minor Counties 391; Berkshire 80-2. Match drawn. Exmouth: Devon 231 and 203 (N Hancock 79, S Rollins 5 for 50); Cornwall 419-6 and 18-0. Cornwall won by 10 wickets. Manor Park: Norfolk 304 and 64-2; Northumberland 176-2 dec. Match drawn. Banbury: Cheshire 365-5; Oxfordshire 100-3. Match drawn. Mildenhall: Cambridgeshire 158; Suffolk 385-3. Match drawn. Corsham: Wiltshire 347-7 and 14-1; Shropshire 137 and 223 (J T Ralph 51, J D Whitney 51). Wiltshire won by 9 wickets.

CHESHIRE's 3-day Minor Counties Championship clash with Oxfordshire is heading for a draw after only eight overs of play were possible on the second day of action at Banbury.

Heavy rain meant that both teams were frustrated in a match they must win to try and enhance their chances of qualification for next season's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy.

Cheshire skipper Andy Hall targeted a victory against Oxfordshire and he was understandably frustrated having seen his side run up their highest score of the season, 365-5, only a day earlier.

"You can't do anything about the weather, but hopefully we still might get a result out of the match. It's very doubtful, though," admitted Hall.

Cheshire managed to grab one more Oxfordshire wicket in the morning session as Oxfordshire progressed from 66-2 to 100-3 in the eight overs played.

"We've just got to hope the weather stays fine today," added Hall. "The good thing is that we've managed to picked up full batting points and we've also got a bowling point, so at least we've got some points on the board."

However, Cheshire chairman Gerry Hardstaff believes it is very doubtful, if the bad weather continues, that his county will be able to force a result from the match on the last day.

"The match is finely poised, but if you lose a day's play, then it's always going to be hard to force a result."

Cheshire won the toss and elected to bat.

MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP: Second day of three: Finchampstead: Wales 391; Berkshire 80-2. Exmouth: Devon 231 (A J Pugh 87, G Rollins 5 for 68) and 42-4; Cornwall 419-6 dec (R C Driver 115, T G Sharp 113, G M Thomas 100). Manor Park: Norfolk 304 and 64-2; Northumberland 176-2 dec (A T Heather 103 not out). Banbury: Cheshire 365-5 (G Arhcer 121 not out, D N Leech 73); Oxfordshire 100-3. Milbourne Hall: Cambridgeshire 158; Suffolk 385-3 (B France 179 not out, M J Marvell 54 not out). Corsham: Wiltshire 347-7 dec; Shropshire 137 and 26-3.

FORMER Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire batsman Graeme Archer smashed a brilliant unbeaten hundred as Cheshire took control against Oxfordshire on the opening day of their Minor Counties Championship Western Divison clash, which runs until Tuesday (August 10).

Archer top-scored for Cheshire with 121 not out as the visitors ran up an imposing 365-5 having won the toss and elected to bat.

And there were runs also for openers Danny Leech (74) and Alexis Twigg (53), who gave Cheshire the perfect start at Banbury, in a match they must win to enhance their chances of qualifying for next year's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy.

Captain Andy Hall weighed in with 53 in Cheshire's allotted 90 overs, before his bowlers helped restrict the hosts to 66-2 at the close of play.

Cheshire, who have already picked up full batting points for their efforts, need one more wicket this morning for their first bowling point of the game.

Hall hopes his team can get that point quickly and then go on to dismiss Oxfordshire quickly so they can force a win inside three days.

"We've made an excellent start," said Hall. "The top order batted very well, especially Graeme (Archer). He's been in really good touch since he joined us earlier this season.

"It's a good pitch and I fancied a bat. I'm glad I made the right decision, it was important to get as many batting points as we could.

"But we've got to push on from here and make sure we bowl Oxfordshire out cheaply and keep some type of first innings lead, whatever it may be."

And Hall also paid special praise to both of his opening batsman, whose opening century stand really set Cheshire up for a big score on the opening day.

"Danny (Leech) and Alexis (Twigg) seem to enjoy batting together," added Hall. "It's important we have a solid opening partnership. They both batted very well and then everyone behind them chipped in as well with important runs."

Cheshire v Oxfordshire CCC – MCCA Championship At BAnbury on Sun/Mon/Tues 8/9/10 August 2004 Cheshire won toss – Match Drawn - Cheshire 9 pts Oxford 6 pts
Cheshire 1st			Cheshire 2nd
S.A.Twigg	c Knightley b P.J. Evans	54
D.N.Leech	b I.J.Evans	72
G.F.Archer	not out	121
N.D.Cross	lbw Arnold	17
A.J.Hall (c)	c Knightley b P.J.Evans	53
M.R.Dawson (w)	c Newhook b I.J.Evans	28
R.W.Fisher	no	4
J.P.Whittaker
D.B.Pennett
M.Bolger
B.J.Cutbill
	Extras	16
	Total (5 wkts)	365

Oxfordshire Bowling 1st					Bowling 2nd
	O	M	R	W	O	M	R	W
R.M.Newhook	14		73
L.H.Merry	15	4	59
K.A.Arnold	23	8	45	1
P.J.Evans	19	3	88	2
I.J.Evans	19	2	87	2

Oxfordshire 1^st Innings			2^nd Innings
I.A.Hawtin (wk)	c Twigg b Pennett	10
C.A.Smith	no	51
R.I.Kaufman	c Dawson b Whittaker	2
P.J.Evans	lbw Pennett	25
R.J.Williams	no	3
C.S.Knightley
A.P.Cook
L.H.Merry
I.J.Evans
K.A.Arnol (c)
R.M.Newhook
	Extras	9
	Total (3 wkts)	100

Cheshire Bowling 1st					2nd
	O	M	R	W	O	M	R	W
D.B.Pennett	12.1	3	41	2
J.P.Whittaker	11		51	1
R.W.Fisher	3	1	5
N.D.Cross	2	2