OXFORDSHIRE finished on the wrong side of an NCCA Trophy thriller as Wales NC claimed victory with one ball to spare.

Rain delays at Banbury saw the 50-over clash reduced to 33 overs-a-side, with the hosts posting 202/8.

Oxon appeared to be closing in on their second successive Group 4 triumph when their opponents fell to 173/8, but No 8 Andrew Gorvin and tailender Tegid Phillips each struck 17 to see Wales home by two wickets.

The rain forced both sides to be patient, but eventually the visitors won the toss and elected to field.

Oxon quickly took control, with openers Tom Haynes and Tom Cosford putting on 61 for the first wicket before the latter was removed for 39.

James Coles was bowled by Phillips for 15 to leave the hosts 85/2 at the beginning of the 18th over, but Harrison Ward came in to maintain the momentum.

His quickfire 47 (32) helped move Oxon on to 161/3 before he was also removed by Phillips, but that signalled a mini-collapse.

The home side went from 173/3 to 186/7 as Haynes finally fell, bowled by Steve Reingold for 55, with brothers Tom and Ollie Price and captain Olly Clarke also dismissed.

Matt Warner smashed ten off four to push Oxon past 200 and Wales inherited the quick run rate as they began their reply.

The visitors had already raced to 27 when Tom Price bowled Reingold for 15 at the end of the third over, before his brother’s superb catch off Joe Butcher’s bowling removed Tom Bevan with the next ball.

Price claimed two more quick wickets as Wales were reduced to 55/4 inside a breathless nine overs, with Oxon seemingly edging it.

The momentum shifted again, though, Oskar Kolk and Cameron Herring putting on 66 before the latter was stumped by Callum Russell off Clarke for 38.

Wales needed 82 runs off 69 balls, leaving the contest precariously poised, and they edged closer with a 34-run partnership between captain Samuel Pearce and Kolk.

Coles, fresh from his 5/6 against Berkshire the previous weekend, made a key contribution again as he dismissed both players in the space of five deliveries.

Wales still needed 44 runs from seven overs with only three wickets remaining and when Tom Price bowled Aneurin Norman for nine they were still 30 runs short with 20 balls left.

But Gorvin and Phillips stepped up to haul Wales over the line, hitting ten off the final over to snatch victory.

It means the visitors have now racked up three wins from three in Group 4, while Oxon are third after tasting their first defeat of 2021.

They face Buckinghamshire at Gerrards Cross on Sunday.