Oxford Lose Final Over Thriller
Oxford UCCE lock horns with Loughborough on a beautiful day at the Marston Cricket Ground.
As May Day celebrations drew to a close in Oxford, bright sunshine welcomed a confident Loughborough side to Marston Cricket ground, and the start of a new competitive season in the university league. The weather also served to reflect the mood of Oxford University Centre of Excellence, who just days earlier had given championship side Derbyshire a serious fright at University Parks, forcing a highly creditable draw.
Today however was to be Loughborough’s day, as Oxford lost out with only three balls remaining. Having won the toss, the Oxford captain Luke Parker elected to bat first on what seemed to be a favourable pitch. Unfortunately, both opening batsmen fell early as Salil Oberoi, fresh from his impressive 179 last week, was caught out in the first over. He was soon joined in the pavilion by Anwar, who edged a fast delivery to the Loughborough keeper. Harrison made no mistake with the simple catch.
It fell to Parker himself to halt the fall of wickets. Alongside Woods they ground out an impressive partnership of 63 for the third wicket, pushing Oxford to 79/2 at the halfway stage. The visitor’s free-scoring flow seemed to be palpably disrupted. However just as Oxford appeared to be getting themselves out of trouble disaster struck with the fall of three cheap quick wickets in only two overs.
At 83/5, Loughborough were contemplating an early tea, but met gallant resistance in the form of Josh Knappet and Ronnie Sekhri, who launched a miraculous home side comeback. Having bowled so well in his first spell, Miller was dispatched to all sides of the ground as the hosts fought to obtain a respectable total in preparation for Loughborough’s formidable batting line up. Sekhri smashed 56 off 64 balls as the pair constructed a much needed century partnership.
Knappett stayed in until the end and finished on 50 not out, as Oxford reached 198/8. Loughborough began their reply slowly and tight bowling yielded a wicket each for Amit Suman and Tim Linley. Steve Clark went for 12 soon after, as the visitors were reduced to 68/3 off 18 overs. Oxford enthusiasm was soon dented however, as Gifford (79no) and Singh (46) steered Loughborough towards victory. Despite this, the home side retaliated as their opponents approached the winning post.
A brilliant piece of fielding from Dave Fox in midwicket saw Singh run out just short of his fifty, setting up a close finish. Oberoi’s accurate spin bowling left the visitors requiring a challenging seven runs off the last over. A gripping and tense finale was to ensue. Fittingly, it was Gifford who broke this tension as he lofted a cover drive to the boundary, handing Loughborough victory.
Although their title hopes may have been dented, Oxford can take heart from a couple of superb individual performances. The team will be hoping to make a swift recovery in time for their crucial match against rivals Bradford this week.
5th May 2005