CAPTAIN Chris Bradley took five wickets for just 10 runs as Devon breezed into the last eight of the Minor Counties Trophy yesterday with a thumping 166-run win over Oxfordshire.
ROB Woodman and David Lye both hit half-centuries as Devon piled up 277 for nine against Oxfordshire at Challow in their must-win Minor Counties Trophy game.
Devon, who lost the toss and were inserted, raced to 41 without loss in five overs as Rob Holman and Rob Woodman got on with it.
Holman was caught at mid-wicket after getting under a delivery from Daniel Rowe.
Surviving opener Woodman (37) and third-man in Lye (12) moved the score along to 74 without further mishap in the 14th over.
Lye was first to his 50, which came off 45 balls with seven fours. Woodman reached his from the very next delivery, from 69 balls and including six boundaries.
Lye was on 71 and Woodman 61 in a running total of 169 for one in the 28th over.
Lye went soon after, caught behind of Richard Kaufmann for 73. He had dispatched nine fours and one six high over the Cotswold stone pavilion behind the mid-wicket boundary.
Woodman and Matt Wood nudged the score along to 212 for three, then opener Woodman was stumped for 79
Devon had wickets in hand going into the last 10 overs and it was a case of get on or get out.
Wood (40), James Burke (3) and Bess (1) all went close together as Devon subsided to 237 for six.
Burke was run out after being sent back by Wood who declined a third, Bess lasted three balls before he was caught and bowled then Wood fell bowled to Rowe.
The last five overs saw Matt Thompson (18) wring another 38 runs out of the tail enders before he was last out with three balls to go.
Pick of the Oxfordshire bowlers with three for 50 was spinner Ashley Blanchard.
When Oxfordshire batted they lurched from 18 for none to 30 for three as Trevor Anning and Josh Bess got to work, then got into more trouble as Bradley wheeled away.
Burke took a juggling catch at point to send back opener Richard Kaufman.
Devon will face Wiltshire in the last eight at Corsham on June 17.