Oxford squeeze past Cambridge
Oxford...........................................175-9
Cambridge....................................171-8
Oxford won by 4 runs
The Oxford Authentics maintained their strong start to the season with victory over Cambridge in the BUSA league at Marston Ferry this week. Nick Hilliard and Pete Dunbar top scored with 57 and 42 runs respectively to help Oxford post a total of 175 after 50 overs. In reply, Cambridge came close to surpassing this target but the level of containment shown by the Oxford bowlers kept them at bay, who ended up four runs short once the allotted 50 overs were up.
Going in to this game on the back of victory over Oxfordshire CCC, the Oxford Authentics (a mixture of Blues and second-team players) faced the old enemy in the first game of the regular BUSA league season. Acting as a modest prelude to the Varsity games that will take place at Lord’s and the Parks in July, there was in fact very little to decide between these two sides on the day. Although Oxford set a reasonably promising target, they started slowly nonetheless.
Sitting humbly on just 115 after 32 overs, it was left to the powerful partnership of Mike Munday and Matt Harries to put on no fewer than 65 runs for the ninth wicket, notching 25 and 33 respectively, along with seven extras. As it turned out, this pairing effectively won the game for Oxford • without which, Cambridge may well have sailed past whatever was asked of them. However, Cambridge’s innings hummed along as the hosts made a steady dismantling job of their effort to reach 175.
Cambridge looked promising just before bowler Chris Stearn was introduced, who took two quick-fire wickets in two balls which changed the face of the match. Requiring 20 runs off the last two overs, a professional containment policy from Oxford meant that Cambridge didn’t quite make it. Indeed, Chris Stearn boasted the pick of the bowling figures for Oxford, taking two wickets in ten overs and conceding just 40 runs in the process.
He removed Tabs’ highest scorer Bartholomew while the visitors were in the assuming position of 104-3, and went on to dismiss Javaid and Jacklin for ducks before his bowling allowed Nick Woods to pull off a brilliant catch to send Tiwari back to the pavilion. Steve Hicks conceded no more than six runs off seven overs during the outset of Cambridge’s innings, and it was his tight bowling that prevented the Tabs staking their claim on the match.
Despite a shaky first over from Harries, he recovered promptly and looked like claiming his first wicket of the season were it not for a chance being dropped in the field. Woods was in fact unfortunate not to get more than the two wickets he did, masterminding a terrific job to ruffle Cambridge’s feathers. Munday got hit for a few runs in his first spell and allowed the visitors to up their run rate a notch, but his second stint was more economical.
His overall figures were impressive • conceding 42 off ten overs and taking two wickets in doing so. With a shade of sloppiness manifest in the field • a small handful of dropped catches and needless runs conceded • Oxford ought to have dispensed with their opponents earlier. Instead, the Authentics had the over limit to thank for this resilient victory over the Tabs.
11th May 2006