Fierce Oxford fend off tough Yorkshire threat
Leeds/Bradford UCCE arrived at the Parks with a reputation as the weakest Academy side that Oxford would have the good fortune to face this season. The Yorkshire Academy side had suffered a succession of losses prior to the match, including a humble drubbing by a weakened Worcestershire side only days previously.
However, after amassing an imposing 447 it took an impressively consistent and well-paced run chase for Oxford to overhaul the target with just six balls in the match remaining and secure a hardfought and remarkable victory. The game started in excellent fashion for Oxford when Leeds opener Reddish was resoundingly bowled by Mali Richards for an embarrassing duck. Oxford must have envisaged an easy victory despite the cloudless skies and flat wicket being perfect for batting.
But opener Nawaz and number three Patel took advantage of the conditions and added a stunning 338 for the second wicket, with Nawaz in particular taking the attack to the Oxford bowlers. The relentless assault meant that Leeds had reached 340 in 70 overs by the time the partnership was broken when Nick Woods eventually removed Nawaz for 195.
However, after securing a platform from which it looked inevitable that they would set Oxford an insurmountable total, a combination of disciplined, accurate bowling and poor shot selection meant that Leeds lost their last eight wickets for a measly 107, with Nick Woods finishing with figures of 5-114 after bowling a remarkable spell of 30 overs unchanged.
Oxford were thus set 448 to win from the 106 overs available to them, a formidable target but one which they set out to attain, confident that Leeds’ bowling skills did not match their batting prowess. On the second and final day of the match the pitch remained flat and the sky clear, as Oxford set about marching towards the target with vigour. Every batsman contributed important runs - everyone made at least double figures - and kept the scoring rate high enough to make victory possibile.
Steve Moreton (59), Peter Wilshaw (70), wicketkeeper Josh Knappett (59) and Nick Woods (50) all made half centuries. The result was still very much in doubt with an hour to play, but Mali Richards took the gamble of playing some big shots off the Leeds spinners, and his rapid construction of 82 not out saw Oxford home to a hard-fought and well-earned victory with only one over to spare.
18th May 2006