Match Reports
Oxford vs Brighton University, 21/04/2010.
The 2010 season got under way with the first BUCS fixture away to Brighton. Despite the journey taking longer than anticipated, courtesy of some ‘alternative’ map reading, the team arrived in good spirits and ready to play. After winning the toss, captain Dan Pascoe (Lincoln) chose to bowl. Openers Nick Buchanan (Hertford) and Andrew Shakespeare (Worcester) bowled with great discipline to restrict the Brighton opening batsmen, backed up by great energy and support from the fielders. After 14 tight overs, Chris Stearn (Worcester) and Brett Tully (Magdalen) were introduced into the attack and both managed to pick up a wicket in their first over. At the mid innings drinks break, Brighton were well placed, but the introduction of spin soon put the brakes on. Pascoe bowled cleverly to pick up 3-14 and Buchanan returned to remove their dangerous looking no. 3. Eventually, they were bowled out for 144 of 39 overs.
After tea, Dan King (Merton) and Robin Thompson (Worcester) got Oxford off to a solid start, before both were given out caught behind in quick succession. This brought fresher Anand Patel (Worcester) and Mark Weston (St. Catz) together, and they proceeded to take advantageof some wayward bowling from the Brighton change bowlers, putting on 95 runs before Weston was run out for 51, leaving Oxford only 12 runs short of victory. These were duly knocked off by Patel who finished unbeaten on 47, Oxford finishing on 146-3 in 26 overs, to win by 7 wickets.
A fine all round performance from Oxford, with room for improvement ahead of what are sure to be tougher fixtures in the coming weeks.
Oxford vs Southampton Solent, 25/04/2010
On Sunday 25th May the Blues continued their BUCS campaign with a hard fought win against a strong Southampton Solent side.
Batting first the Blues started strongly with a good opening partnership from Dan King (Merton) and Nick Meadows (St. John's). Some tight bowling in the middle overs restricted Oxford as wickets fell with regularity. After a short rain break and a brief acceleration Oxford finished on 233 for 9 from 47 overs. In response a quick start from Solent saw them well ahead of the run rate after 10 overs until Sam Agarwal (Queen's) struck to slow the game down. Always seemingly behind the game Oxford persevered. Needing 10 off the last over with 2 wickets in hand, Southampton only managed 5, to finish 5 short on 228 for 9.
Oxford vs Essex, 5/05/2010
Under overcast skies, captain Dan Pascoe (Lincoln) won the toss and chose to field first. Paul Higham (Pembroke) bowled superbly well without reward as Essex reached 44-0 after the first 15 overs. However, the introduction of Chris Stearn (Worcester) into the attack radically altered the complexion of the match. He struck twice in his first over, and went on to take the scarcely believable figures of 7-2, as Essex disintegrated. Stearn received good support from Brett Tully (Magdalen) who picked up 3 wickets, as Essex weere eventually bowled out for 56. In reply, Oxford lost Nick Meadows (St. John's) early on, but Dan King (Merton) and Avinash Sharma (Green Templeton) quickly knowcked off the required runs to see Oxford home by 9 wickets.
Oxford vs. Southampton, 6/05/2010
In similar conditions to the match the day before, Oxford again won the toss and again chose to bowl. With the ball swining about, batting was difficult, a fact that was ruthlessly exploited by the Oxford openers, Paul Higham (Pembroke) and Nick Buchanan (Hertford). Higham ran through the top order to finish with 5-16 and Buchanan chipped in with two more, to leave Southampton in disarray at 47-7. However, some dogged resistence saw the Southampton score edge upwards, as the batsmen looked to bat the 50 overs. The introduction of spin soon broke the partnership however, as Dan Pascoe (Lincoln) picked up three quick wickets to polish off the innings, Southampton being bowled out for 96.
The Oxford reply got off to a shaky start as wickets fell at regular intervals. Southampton bowled with great discipline as they looked to defend their small total, but the cool head of Avinash Sharma (Green Templeton) saw Oxford home by 5 wickets, as he finished on 44 not out.
Oxford vs. UWIC, 9/05/2010
Oxford played their final league match in cold and overcast conditions at Marston, on a wicket that had provided a lot of encouragement for the seamers earlier in the week, and so it would prove again. After captain Dan Pascoe (Lincoln) won the toss and chose to bat, Oxford lost Nick Meadows (St John's) early on, before Sam Agarwal (Queen's) and Avinash Sharma (Green Templeton) set about compiling what would become a match winning stand. Agarwal made 48 and Sharma 47 before the Oxford innings stuttered as both fell in quick succession and the slow pace of the wicket made it difficult for the incoming batsmen to score freely. However, Tom Bryan (Worcester) received good upport from the lower order in making 38 not out, and led Oxford to a competitive total of 200 from their 50 overs.
The UWIC innings got off to a disastrous start as Andrew Shakespeare (Worcester) took a wicket in each of his first two overs, and soon the scorecard read 5-4 from 5 overs, as Lewis Dingle (Christ Church) chipped in from the other end. As wickets continued to fall, the match was soon over as a contest with UWIC intent on batting out their overs and Oxford searching for the final few wickets. In the end, Shakespeare finished with 4, and all the other bowlers chipped in to eventually dismiss UWIC for 80. A thoroughly professional performance from the dark Blues, who currently sit top of their BUCS group, and will be hopeful of progressing far in the knockout stages of the competition.
Oxford vs University of Hertfordshire, 26/05/2010
The first stage of the BUCS knockout stage was played at Marston in sunny conditions. Dan King (Merton), standing in as captain as both skipper and vice-captain were playing in a UCCE first class fixture against Middlesex, won the toss, and chose to bat on what promised to be a good batting wicket. Sure enough, King and fellow opener, Sam Agarwal (Queen's) set about making the most of the early fielding restrictions pushing the score along at a healthy run rate in the first 15 overs. Changes of bowling failed to stem the flow of runs, and King and Agarwal batted serenely as they both pushed past 50. As Hertfordshire began to run out of ideas, Agarwal stepped on the gas, accelerating to his 100 before really opening his shoulders. He was eventually dismissed for 127, the openers having put on 227 for the first wicket. From this strong position, Oxford looked to push on, and King reached his own century not long after, before he eventually finished on 139 not out, Oxford finishing their 50 overs on 310-3.
In reply, Matt Swan (Christ Church) got Oxford off to a superb start, picking up two early wickets. Economical bowling from all off the seam bowlers ensured that Hertfordshire were never likely to threaten the Oxford score. Hertfordshire eventually finished on 210-7 from their 50 overs, giving Oxford a comfortable victory.
Oxford vs Oxford C.C., 24/04/2010
The Blues travelled to the outskirts of Oxford on Saturday to take on Oxford C.C. in the ‘Town vs Gown’ match. Blues captain Raj Sharma (Mansfield) lost the toss and was asked to bat. Openers Dan King (Merton) and Robin Thompson (Worcester) once again got the team off to a solid start before King fel victim to a brilliant diving catch at point. Avinash Sharma (Green Templeton) played some glorious stroke before a couple of quick wickets left Oxford in a potentially tricky situation at 70-3. However, Sam Agarwal (Queen’s) joined his captain at the crease and together, the two proceeded to put on 160 for the 4th wicket, before the captain was caught and bowled trying to push the pace on in the closing overs. He fell for a well made 86, and was followed moments later by Agarwal who had made 82 at better than a run-a-ball. With the innings in danger of unraveeling slightly, Dan Pascoe (Lincoln) batted well in the closing stages to finish on 20* as Oxford closed on 261-7 after 50 overs.
In reply, the ‘town’ were restricted early on by some tight bowling from Nick Buchanan (Hertford) and Lewis Dingle (Christ Church) before Dingle surprised one of the batsmen with a quick bouncer and the catch was taken by wicketkeeper King. Oxford C.C. proceeded to bat well, putting together a number of good partnerships, but brilliant bowling from Pascoe, who finished with figures of 4-41, kept the Blues in touch. An excellent catch from Matt Swan (Christ Church) inside the final 5 overs heaped the pressure onto the batsmen, and with 9 needed from the final over, Dingle produced a succession of dot balls to ensure that they finished just short, on 257-7, giving the ‘gown’ victory by 4 runs.
Oxford vs. Cambridge, 4/06/2010 (Charles Russell Twenty20 Varsity)
The Varsity campaign began in fine style for Oxford on a sunny and hot Friday afternoon in the Parks. After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Oxford openers Sam Agarwal (Queen's) and Dan King (Merton) proceeded to set about the Cambridge bowling, and quickly built a very solid platform for the Oxford innings. Agarwal reached his 50 from 42 balls, and continued to dominate an ineffectual Cambridge attack. King batted well to reach 41 before he was bowled. Shorrtly after this, Agarwal was caught trying to hit a second six, a brilliant innings of 88 from 58 balls having put Oxford firmly on the front foot. Some big hitting and good running between the wickets from Blues captain Raj Sharma (Mansfield) and Nick Meadows (St. John's), propelled the Oxford total to 178-2 at the end of their 20 overs, Sharma finishing on a rapid 33 not out.
In reply, the Cambridge batsmen managed to keep up with the scoring rate but were undone by continually losing wickets. The first to fall was to man of the match Agarwal, who took a simple caught and bowled in his first over. Thereafter, Cambridge struggled to build the partnerships they needed to mount a successful chase as Agarwal, Sharma, and Paul Higham (Pembroke) all chipped in with 2 wickets each, and vice captain Dan Pasoce (Lincoln) had excellent figures of 3-1-7-3. Backed up by some excellent fielding, Agarwal again to the fore with two sharply taken catches, Oxford effectively applied pressure and as the asking rate when up, wickets fell. Cambridge were eventually all bowled out for 125, giving Oxford a convincing win by 53 runs.