An unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 39 secured a draw for
Oxford UCCE on day three of their game against Surrey. Chasing
350 to win in two sessions the side (made up of students from
both Oxford and Brookes) lost four wickets for nine middle order
wickets, collapsing from 106/4 to 115/8 before captain Paul
McMahon, alongside fellow tailender Suman, resisted Surrey’s
efforts to wrap the game up. Day One had begun with Surrey,
losing the early wicket of Jonathan Batty for 10. Scott Newman,
however, hit the ball to all corners in a 141-run second-wicket
partnership with Mark Ramprakash, eventually succumbing on 100
when he was bowled. Ramprakash then kicked on himself and scored 113 before
retiring hurt, forming another good partnership with James
Benning, who scored 128. The county outfit, declared on 452-5 on
day two. The Oxford reply began badly and Surrey held the upper
hand at 66-4. The response from Omar Anwar and Knappett was
excellent and their partnership of 108 for the fifth wicket was
possibly the most significant factor in avoiding the follow- on.
Newman could not repeat his first innings heroics for Surrey as
he went for 15 but after a tough and niggly 16 overs, the
scoreboard at the close of play on day two showed Surrey at 62/1,
with Adam Hollioake and Batty both 22 not out. Surrey’s
second declaration of the contest finished the innings at 164- 5,
Shahid was standing on 44 at the time, with Tudor’s
quickfire 18 also unbroken. An opening partnership of 40 was
followed by less steady batting in the final innings and Surrey
seamer James Ormond’s 3-34, left the Oxford side staring
defeat full in the face. However, McMahon and Suman dug in before the match was left
with five overs remaining as the umpires gave the batsmen the
gift of a bad light decision soon after they had passed the 150
mark. In a one-day match in nougth week, the UCCE were
comprehensively beaten by Somerset’s second string side, who
made the required 198 in 22 overs without losing a wicket. Two
wins were also recorded – firstly, Northamptonshire seconds
were dispatched by 51 runs after a superb bowling display,
particularly by Hutton and McMahon with three wickets each, saw
their last nine wickets fall for just 48. Oxford had made just
175/8 in their fifty overs but their opponents struggled and were
witness to a total of 124 all out. The next victims, the CCM
Academy, recorded precisely the same score, taking an extra 4.3
overs to get it, chasing a formidable 276-4 posted by Oxford. Yet on Monday, the encouraging signs were tempered as the UCCE
were outplayed by Warwickshire’s second eleven at The Parks.
They drastically slumped to a mere 147 all out. Such a target was
never going to pose a problem for a Warwickshire side containing
numerous winners of both first-class and one day competitions,
and so it proved. Warwickshire sealed a more than comfortable win
with over ten overs still to be bowled. The highlight for the
UCCE second string, their game against Cambridge UCCE, ended in
frustration and heartache. A closely-fought battle throughout,
the result came down to the very last over but, with just two
balls – and two wickets – standing between Oxford and
victory, the Tabs found the winning runs.ARCHIVE: 0th week TT 2004
University Cricket – Surrey Fail to See the Light
