Oxford 179-9 (Haines 61*, Winter 52) beat Cambridge 177 (Ansari 52) by one wicket.
An incredible batting display of 61 not out from Oxford’s no. 9 Haines snatched a dramatic victory for the Dark Blues in the one-day Varsity cricket match at Lord’s. Beautiful summer weather blessed the historic venue – this year celebrating its bicentenary – and the sun ultimately shone on Oxford, albeit incredibly late, in a gripping day of university cricket.
Cambridge opened the batting and made gentle progress, posting 30 runs before losing Wylie and Senaratne in quick succession. Ansari came to the crease and knocked an impressive half-century whilst the Light Blues middle order collapsed around him. Just 14 runs were scored between five batsmen and Cambridge Captain T.C. Elliott was run out without facing a ball. Caught up in the batting landslide, once Ansari himself was caught by Sakande off Cato, it looked as though the Cambridge metaphorical ship would soon capsize. However, a solid counter-attack from Crichard and Sadler at the tail end led Cambridge to 177 all out off 47 overs, an unflattering innings total but by no means leaving Oxford complacent. The Dark Blues’ bowling performance deserves credit, particularly Cato and Sakande who took three and four wickets respectively. Marsden grabbed two wickets, whilst Haines gave away little off his nine overs.
The crowds used the extended luncheon interval to refill beverages, returning to their seats with more energy than Luis Suarez drugged up on Red Bull. It was anticipated that Oxford would aggressively target the somewhat disappointing Cambridge score from the off. Instead, opening batsman Jeffrey found his off-stump clean bowled by Pollock after just the third ball. The momentum seemed to swing as much as Pollock’s bowling, which eventually claimed four of the Oxford wickets. An impressive display by Pollock and his counterparts Sadler and Crichard kept the Dark Blues at bay.
The eleventh over could have proven pivotal. Pollock bowled a double-wicket maiden to dismiss O’Grady for nine and Ferraby, who was caught at first slip. Ferraby was already the second Oxford batsman sent packing (and quacking!) for a duck and the Dark Blues found themselves three wickets down with only 39 runs on the board. However, Winter seemed to be Oxford’s Ansari, the ray of light amid the sinking ship. Winter did not look back after being dropped by the second slip on four runs, proceeding to match Ansari’s score of 52. The no.3 batsman was eventually given out for what looked a harsh lbw off Bath, and with Winter disappeared a large part of Oxford’s hopes. Oxford’s run rate had slipped to under three an over, taking just one run off three overs midway into the innings and leaving a sorry-looking scoreboard. Winter had gone. Soon followed Chadwick, Cato and Marsden. The tide had turned. The Dark Blues were truly caught adrift. Oxford had just one wicket to spare and still required 41 runs. Furthermore, only six overs remained.
Winter had indeed passed, but spring arrived in unprecedented fashion in the form of Kiwi Ross Haines. An early six set the momentum for a confident display of batting, which saw the right-hander navigate his way to an impressive half century and spark a dramatic turnaround. A good percentage of the crowd had disappeared, believing victory for Cambridge was all but assured. But those that kept their seats witnessed Oxford snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Haines was imperturbable despite the pressure inflicted on the Oxford lower order and the team hung on until the bitter end. Haines and Sakande resembled loved up tennis partners, forming a tail end connection on the basis of ‘fist pumps’. Neverthless, such intimacy seemed to do the trick. Sakande and Haines knuckled down and turned the tide. Haines batted titanically and the Dark Blues entered the fiftieth and final over requiring five runs to steal an impossible victory.
Cambridge’s Pollock was called into action for this final-over showdown. Although Haines had led a brave Oxford fightback, there was surely no way this could continue, especially facing the mighty Pollock. This was a new showdown. Froch v. Groves was now Haines v. Pollock. The Varsity match had come down to the final over. The first ball of the final over and the tension in the ground was thick enough to slice up and place inside a Lord’s prawn sandwich. That tension, however, was smashed nonchalantly by Haines into deep midwicket for six. The Cambridge fielders were left dumbfounded. The crowd was probably too inebriated to realise what had happened. This was the cricket’s version of Sergio Aguero. Oxford sealed an impossible victory in the most stylish fashion.
Haines batted titanically. A total of 61 not out, including three sixes and four fours made the Oxford no.9 the highest scorer of the Varsity match and well-deserved recipient of the man of the match award. Many historic moments in cricket have taken place at Lord’s, but what a fabulous comeback from Oxford in a thrilling Varsity match, fitting of the venue’s 200th anniversary.
The Oxford team was unavailable to comment on Friday evening, presumably busy getting merry in the Lord’s Long Room, whilst Cherwell writers also had a certain Friday event at Wahoo to attend. But in the words of Oxford batsman Richie O’Grady on Facebook, “Arise Sir Ross Haines. You’ve got to have faith.”
The four-day Varsity Match will take place Monday 30th June – Thursday 3rd July at The Parks, Oxford.
