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 including a full length diving effort to dismiss the Cambridge top scorer, 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.
The focus now shifts to the one day Varsity at Lords on the 4th July, followed by the first class fixture starting on the 6th July in the Parks.
Oxford win the toss and choose too bat. Sam Agarwal (Queen's) hits a six.
Agarwal departs for a brilliant 88, from just 58 balls. The large crowd enjoyed watching Oxford dominate.
Nick Meadows (St. John's) smashes another boundary The victorious Oxford team celebrate.
*Photo's taken by Brett Tully.