CENTURIES from Jamie Harrison and Jonny Cater put Oxfordshire on course for a vital victory in the NCCA Trophy.

The visitors smashed 393/9 against Northumberland, who began the day second, with their opponents only reaching 323 all out in reply.

Harrison hit 134 off 100 balls in an incredible innings, before captain Cater took the baton with a 51-ball hundred.

Northumberland gave it a good go, but Max Mannering’s 5/71 helped Oxon go top of Group 1 with one match remaining.

Harrison and Tom Condon (59) put the visitors in charge with a stand of 162 for the second wicket and the run rate only increased after the latter fell in the 28th over.

Harrison smashed 14 fours and seven sixes before he was trapped lbw by Alasdair Appleby, as three wickets fell for three runs.

Cater maintained the momentum, hitting his eighth six to reach his century in the final over – only to be bowled by Matthew Oswell the very next ball.

Ollie Currill removed openers Appleby and Jack Jessop early in the Northumberland innings, but John Oswell (108) and Stuart Poynter (109) seemed to put the hosts in sight of victory with a 218-run partnership for the third wicket.

Mannering dismissed both players in successive overs to leave the home side 268/4 and their chase never recovered.

Oxon made light work of the tail as Mannering took three more wickets to help his team climb to the Group 1 summit, above Cumbria on net run rate.