Date-stamped : 28 Jun96 - 14:17 NatWest Trophy, Round 1 Oxfordshire v Lancashire Aston Rowant 25 June 1996 ====> REPORT MIKE Atherton insisted on playing in yesterday`s NatWest Trophy first round tie against Oxfordshire - and was rewarded with a timely 79 in Lancashire`s 109-run win. The England captain, out-of-sorts in the Second Test at Lord`s, was initially contemplating a couple of days off be- fore Thursday`s championship match at home to Somerset. But, in search of form and time in the middle, he instead put on 147 with skipper Mike Watkinson (62) in an opening partnership which was the basis of Lancashire`s 310 for six. Nick Speak (83) and Neil Fairbrother (46) weighed in with a third wicket stand worth 93 and that total proved far too much for the minor county, who eventually reached 201 for six only because of some friendly bowling served up by the same pair with the ball during the early evening. Atherton reached his fifty from 89 balls with eight fours. He said: "It might not have been one of my best innings, but it did a job!" A good crowd of around 2,000 also enjoyed the Lancashire strokeplay in the lovely setting of Aston Rowant. Oxfordshire captain Rupert Evans did his bit by winning the toss and then ensuring a full day`s entertainment by opting to bowl. Lancashire`s victory also set up a July 10 second round tie against Northamptonshire - who will also be their opponents three days later in the Benson and Hedges Cup final at Lord`s. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http.//www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by Shash (shs2@*.cwru.edu)