TEENAGER Zach Lion-Cachet starred with a brilliant maiden century in a day of two halves for Oxfordshire.

Oxon travelled to Bedfordshire for a double-header as they look to defend their National Counties T20 crown.

Opening batter Lion-Cachet, 19, has been trialling with Sussex and plundered 101 from 56 balls.

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Tom Hinley made 83 not out to help Oxon pile up 207-for-one, a total that proved too many for Bedfordshire.

After being dominated in the morning, Oxon needed to level up the honours in order to stay in contention of defending their title.

After the impressive, fast-scoring striking from Lion-Cachet and Hinley, Prav Chahal took five-for-17 from four overs to lead the way in restricting the hosts to 83-for-seven, Oxon securing the win by 96 runs.

In the opening game of the day, Jonny Cater’s side were restricted to just 106 all out after scores of 23 from Lion-Cachet and 22 from Samit Patel.

From 70-for-two batting first, Oxon slipped to 90-for-five to then 106 all out, with no one below the number five spot reaching double figures.

After wickets were shared around, captain George Thurstance led the way in the run chase with 53 from 56 balls, to see the hosts home by seven wickets with nine balls to spare.

Despite the lack of wickets falling, slow left-arm pairing Ollie Clarke and Patel both picked up figures of one-for-16 from their four overs, although it wasn’t enough to defend the sub-par total set by Cater’s men.