WILTSHIRE ended day one of their opening Unicorns Championship Western Division clash against Oxfordshire in a strong position at Banbury yesterday.

Mike Coles' men, already through to the quarter finals of the Unicorns Knockout Trophy and unbeaten in the shorter form of the game this season, maintained that fine form as they ended the home side's innings early on the first day.

Oxfordshire reached 228 before being dismissed in the 78th of their overs, with Wiltshire 154-2 in reply at stumps.

Tahir Afridi and Jake Roberts had Oxfordshire in early problems, the home side struggling on 42-4 at one stage.

A 102-run partnership between skipper Jonathan Cater (92) and Jasper Davies (13) helped Oxfordshire recover and a late 37 from Ashley Blanchard took them up towards their total.

Afridi ended with 4-58 and Roberts 3-58, with Henry Langford claiming 2-17.

The reply saw openers Langford and Jayden Levitt put on 101 before Langford went for 41.

Ed Young was out for just four, but Joe Breet (23 not out) joined Levitt (80 not out) to see Wiltshire to the close without further damage and in good position to press home their advantage on day two today.

MORE FROM WILTSHIRE'S CLASH AT OXFORDSHIRE AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK/SPORT AND WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK/SPORT TOMORROW AND IN THIS WEEK'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND WILTSHIRE TIMES