Oxford talent make hard work of Middlesex
The Oxford academy team were dominated here by a Middlesex side more intent on giving their batsmen time in the middle than on pursuing victory. Such was Middlesex’s superiority that they were able to change their batting line-up second time around, giving all their batsmen the chance to shine.
Although the gulf between the sides was large, Oxford can take some positives from this performance, especially the tenacity shown by their lower order in the first innings, and the promising bowling of leg spinners Mike Munday and Stephen Moreton. The Oxford players can also take solace in the fact that one of their tormentors, Middlesex’s James Dalrymple, was once an Oxford Blue.
The Academy aims to prepare young cricketers for first class cricket, and in Dalrymple Oxford have produced a dangerous player. Middlesex captain Ben Hutton, grandson of England legend Len, won the toss on a damp Wednesday morning, and chose to bat on a slow pitch. Despite frequent rain delays, Middlesex exploded out of the blocks, reaching 111-1 at lunch. Oxford’s only victim was Hutton himself, brilliantly caught by Munday off Tarique Kalam for 24.
Former England man Ed Smith was joined by Ed Joyce, and the pair cut loose, dispatching the Oxford attack to all parts of the ground in a stand of 208. Moreton finally removed both of them, Joyce for 85, and Smith for an imperious 134. After tea, Mali Richards, formerly a Middlesex player himself, made further inroads, removing Paul Weekes and Nick Compton cheaply. Middlesex closed on 305-5. The weather held off on the second day of play, allowing the sides to enjoy a full day’s cricket.
Dalrymple, resuming on 33, took full advantage, progressing rapidly to 96 off 102 balls before he was caught in the deep off Munday, going for the shot that would have taken him to his hundred. Middlesex soon declared on 395-6. Going into their first innings, Oxford felt the pressure immediately, with Johan Louw yorking Moreton for a duck. Blues captain Salil Oberoi soon followed, who was bowled by ex-England man Chris Silverwood.
Louw then had Luke Parker and Richards caught behind, leaving Oxford in deep trouble on 48-4 at lunch. Omar Anwar and captain Josh Knappett began the task of resurrecting the innings, seeing off the new ball, until Chris Wright removed the former. Knappett soon followed, again caught behind off Wright for 30. Wilshaw and Young shared a stand of 42, with Wilshaw departing for 34, and Young the last man out for a wellconstructed 40.
Despite the fight shown by these two, the tail folded to leave Oxford 185 all out, a massive 210 runs in arrears. Middlesex, however, were not interested in the win, and chose not to enforce the follow- on. Instead, the southwest London side to bat the game to death. Hutton and Compton opened the batting in their second innings and, commencing day three on 56-0, they proceeded both to serve up admirable centuries, being dismissed for 100 and 101 respectively.
Somerset leg spinner Munday produced a fine spell on the third day, dismissing Hutton, and picking up two further wickets. Moreton also chipped in with two wickets in response to Middlesex’s batting prowess as Oxford restored some parity. Middlesex finally declared on 271/5, leaving Oxford a measly 36 overs to bat and with a gigantic nominal target of 482. Oxford lost four wickets in this spell, closing on 99-4. Oberoi made a medoicre 23, and Richards finished unbeaten on 39.
The game ended in a draw, which was more the result of negativity on Middlesex’s part than any showing of tenacity from Oxford. The academy team need to work on threatening more with the new ball, and ensuring that some of their top order batsmen turn starts into big scores.
Middlesex: 1st innings
E Smith......................................134
Extras...........................................22
TOTAL..........................395-6 (dec)
UCCE: 1st innings
S Oberoi......................................8
S Moreton...................................0
L Parker.......................................17
J Knappett..................................30
O Anwar.....................................13
P Wilshaw..................................34
P Young......................................40
T Kalam........................................6
M Munday...................................8
E Morse........................................0
Extras...........................................17
TOTAL.............................85 all out
Middlesex: 2nd innings
B Hutton..................................100
N Compton.............................101
Extras............................................8
TOTAL..........................271-5 (dec)
UCCE: 2nd innings
S Oberoi....................................23
S Moreton..................................15
M Richards.................................39
L Parker.........................................0
J Knappett....................................5
O Anwar.......................................9
Extras............................................8
TOTAL......................................99-4
27th Apr 2006