Brighton battered
In the second BUSA league game of the season, Oxford faced Brighton at home, needing to win at this crucial stage.
Oxford captain Kat Dickens (St. Anne's) won the toss and put Brighton in to bat first, sensing that Oxford's bowling and fielding, if tight enough, would lead them to chase a low total. True enough, it was to be a low scoring game.
The Brighton batswomen were frustrated by the field placements encircling them, and found it difficult to sneak any quick singles. In her second over Jackson struck gold, a short-pitched delivery teasing the Brighton opener to come forward out of her crease and be stumped by Dickens from behind.
Brighton, to their credit, were excellent at their defensive shots, displaying an array of blocking strokes. It was testimony to Oxford's excellent bowling that this did not frustrate them. Allen stole the second wicket as a low-pitched delivery hit the pads - a plumb LBW decision.
Controversy surrounded the third wicket; the ball had trickled down at slow pace to the fielder at square leg - who returned the ball to Dickens behind the wicket. The Brighton player had been spotted wandering out of her crease and Dickens, with hawk-like vision, stumped her as her foot left the crease. Claiming to have been inspecting her glove for an injury, Oxford were accused of unfair play, but she was given out by the umpire.
Brighton then sent out their best batswoman, who immediately punished Oxford with two excellently struck fours. Sensing that she could turn the match around the field was pushed back deeper.
However this caution was unnecessary with a superb spell of bowling from Smith which forced the Brighton player to rush her shot straight back into Smith's outstretched hands. With the key wicket obtained, Smith finished her menacing spell having pickied up three wickets.
Brown demolished the tail-enders in style - three wickets for a mere six runs. Brighton posted 50 runs on the board, and after tea, Lang and Dickens came out to open the batting. Scoring runs easily with some quick running and a few cheeky singles, Oxford reached their target easily in just ten overs, Dickens finishing off in character with a sweetly struck four. With no wickets lost Oxford replied to Brighton with 53 runs without loss.
On this performance, Cambridge will be worried.
30th May 2002