2006 End of Season Report

Oxford University v Cambridge University 03/07/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: Four-day Varsity Match

Result: Oxford University won by 9 wickets.

Day 1 Cambridge batted doggedly for most of the day, but could not prevent Mike Munday from taking 6-77 in 28.2 overs.

Day 2 By the close of play Oxford had edged ahead on 325-6, the highlight being a splendid century from skipper Salil Oberoi (115).

Day 3 Rain badly hampered Oxford’s progress with only 48 overs of play possible, during which time Nick Hillyard (79) and Mike Hobbiss (78*) took their 7th wicket partnership to 110 runs to give Oxford a useful 1st innings lead of 137 runs.

Day 4 Oxford declared overnight. Cambridge started well enough by putting on 75 runs, but then lost all 10 wickets for a further 112 runs as they could not handle the spin of Nick Woods (3-46) and Mike Munday (5-66). Munday finished with the impressive match figures of 11-143.

It took Oxford only 10 overs to knock off the required runs for another convincing victory, with fittingly skipper Salil Oberoi scoring the winning runs with a massive 6 which landed amongst the pavilion seats.

Nick Woods has been appointed Captain for the 2007 season.

Cambridge University v Oxford University 01/07/06

Venue: Lord's
Fixture: One-day Varsity Match

Result: Oxford University won by 52 runs.

Oxford returned to Lord’s 2 days after their UCCE Challenge Final triumph, this time however with the Blues team to contest the annual 1 day Varsity match.

In a low scoring encounter, Oxford were forced to work hard when batting first, with Nick Woods top scoring with 57, aided by a vital 7th wicket partnership of 59 between Nick Hillyard (47*) and Mike Hobbiss (22).

At 80-2 off 22 overs, Cambridge were on target, until the Oxford bowlers took control with the last 8 Cambridge wickets falling for a paltry 69 runs in 19 overs to give the Dark Blue’s a comfortable victory.

Cambridge UCCE v Oxford UCCE 29/06/06

Venue: Lord's
Fixture: 1 Day UCCE Challenge Final

Result: Oxford UCCE won by 73 runs.

UCCE Champions, Oxford, gained a crushing victory over runners-up Cambridge UCCE in the 1 Day Challenge Final at Lord’s.

Having been asked to bat, Oxford lost a wicket in the first over, after which Steve Moreton (146 off just 130 balls) and Luke Parker (91 off 105 balls) shared in a magnificent stand of 199 runs in just 32 overs for the 2nd wicket to completely demoralise the Cambridge attack.

Cambridge started well enough in pursuit of the formidable 327 target, but were then pegged back by the Oxford spin quartet of Oberoi, Woods, Munday and Moreton, and in the end were well beaten by 73 runs. This was Oxford’s 4th appearance in the UCCE Challenge Final in the 6 years of UCCE cricket, and their 2nd victory with one other Final rained off.

The 4 Finals in which Oxford have appeared are:

   2002  v  Loughborough UCCE at Lord’s          Lost
   2003  v  Loughborough UCCE at Trent Bridge    No Play-Rain.  Trophy shared.
   2004  v  Loughborough UCCE at Lord’s          Won
   2006  v  Cambridge UCCE  at Lord’s            Won

Oxford University v M.C.C. 26/06/06

Venue: The Parks. Oxford
Fixture: Blues Match

Result: Oxford University won by 93 runs.

Rain prevented any further play after lunch on the 1st day, so 3 declarations kept the match alive, and proved to be a useful workout for the Blues before the forthcoming 2 Varsity matches.

Peter Dunbar (105), Salil Oberoi (93) and Nick Woods (66*) scored well in the Blue’s 1st innings, with Oberoi again to the fore in the 2nd innings with 121 off just 103 balls, having blasted 47 runs at the start on the 3rd morning before his batting partner had got off the mark.

Nick Woods returned figures of 4-80 in the M.C.C. 2nd innings.

Loughborough UCCE v Oxford UCCE 23/06/06

Venue: Loughborough
Fixture: UCCE Championship

Result: Oxford UCCE won on 1st Innings.
******** WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS ********

By winning 4 of their 5 Championship matches (with the Cambridge fixture being rained off), Oxford UCCE were crowned Champions for the second time in 3 years.

Nick Woods (101) spearheaded a positive Oxford batting display to set Loughborough a stiff target, but the hosts were soon in trouble at 29-3 with Ed Morse ending with 4-55.

Loughborough’s later batsmen tried hard to recover, but in the end Oxford gained a comfortable victory, and will now meet Cambridge UCCE in the 1 Day UCCE Challenge Final at Lord’s on Thursday 29th June, followed 2 days later by the 1 Day Blues Varsity match, again at Lord’s.

Loughborough UCCE 7 points; Oxford UCCE 18 points

Oxford University v Somerset 2nd’s 21/06/06

Venue: Marston, Oxford
Fixture: Blues Match

Result: Oxford University won by 3 wickets.

The Blues were given a good workout by a strong Somerset side who, despite an opening stand of 138, only managed 229 in their 50 overs.

Oxford were indebted to a 4th wicket stand of 120 between Salil Oberoi (110 in just 91 balls) and Paul Selvey-Clinton (61*) in setting up victory with just 9 balls to spare.

Oxford UCCE v Cardiff UCCE 18/06/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: UCCE Championship

Result: Oxford UCCE won on 1st Innings.

By mid-afternoon on the first day’s play Cardiff were 223-3, until the Oxford spinners took control and, despite a 9th wicket stand of 79, managed to restrict Cardiff to 393 all out. Nick Woods took 4-103 in 34 accurate overs.

Oxford were given a flying start by Peter Wilshaw (92) and Steve Moreton (129) which, along with Nick Woods (54), ensured that Oxford gained a win on 1st Innings to keep up their challenge for the UCCE Championship title.

Oxford UCCE 18 points; Cardiff UCCE 6 points

Royal Air Force v Oxford University 16/06/06

Venue: Vine Lane, Uxbridge
Fixture: Blues Match

Result: Oxford University won by 94 runs.

Oxford started slowly in this 50 overs a side match, played on the RAF Sports Ground, Vine Lane, Uxbridge and, after 32 overs, had only scored 107-6. However, some spirited hitting by the tail enders ensured a reasonable target was set for the hosts. Paul Selvey- Clinton top scored with 35.

After 20 overs the RAF appeared to be in control at 70-3, until the introduction of Oxford’s spin duo of Nick Woods and Mike Munday (5-26) so bamboozled the remaining batting that the RAF lost their last 8 wickets for just 45 runs in 17 overs to give Oxford an easy victory, despite opener Graham Lumb carrying his bat for an undefeated 56 runs.

Oxford University v London County C.C. 13/06/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: Blues Match

Result: London County C.C. won on 1st Innings.

This 2 day match was played under rules used in the 2 day UCCE Championship competition. Batting by both sides was rather dour with Nick Woods (60) being the only batsman from either side to register a half century, whilst Salil Oberoi, back after his lengthy absence due to exams, bowled well to take 4-19 in 14 accurate overs.

Only 55 overs were bowled on the first day due to several stoppages for rain.

Oxford UCCE v Oxfordshire 09/06/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: Twenty20 Challenge

Result: Oxford UCCE won by 61 runs.

On a beautiful summer’s evening in The Parks, 300 plus spectators were treated to a powerful batting display by the students with Duncan Bradshaw leading the way with 56 from only 31 balls.

Set a target of nearly 10 runs an over, Oxfordshire were never in the hunt, and were well beaten. Nick Woods took 1-12 in his 4 overs --- quite an achievement in 20/20 cricket.

Durham UCCE v Oxford UCCE 06/06/06

Venue: Durham
Fixture: UCCE Championship

Result: Oxford UCCE won on 1st Innings.

Fielding the same side which played in the previous day’s BUSA match, Oxford gained a convincing victory to top the UCCE table 1 point ahead of Cambridge and 5 points ahead of Loughborough. Following a good start from the earlier batsmen, the highlight of Oxford’s innings was a superb unbroken 8th wicket partnership of 162 between Duncan Bradshaw (108*) and Tarique Kalam (63*). Oxford then made steady inroads in to the Durham innings with Nick Woods (5-91) and Steve Moreton bowling unchanged for 55 overs.

Durham UCCE 8 points; Oxford UCCE 18 points.

Durham UCCE v Oxford UCCE 05/06/06

Venue: Durham
Fixture: BUSA Championship

Result: Durham UCCE won by 43 runs.

A semi-final spot awaited the winners of this last BUSA group match in Durham.

Oxford started well and at one stage Durham were 139-8 but the hosts recovered well to set Oxford 200 runs to win but, with 4 regular batsmen missing, Oxford fell well short with only Josh Knappett (51) posing any threat to Durham.

Oxford therefore finish a disappointing 5th out of 7 in the final BUSA Championship league table.

Oxford UCCE v Durham 31/05/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: 1st class match

Result: Durham won by 4 wickets.

In one of the most keenly contested 1st Class matches for years, Oxford matched Durham all the way, ending with the visitors winning with only 2 balls of the match remaining.

Luke Parker (140) and Josh Knappett (100*) both scored their maiden 1st Class centuries for Oxford, whilst new Oxford UCCE partnership records v 1st Class Counties for the 1st 3rd and 4th wickets were also created.

Oxford UCCE v Nottingham University 28/05/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: BUSA Championship

Result: Ground unfit for play.

An unfit pitch resulted in yet another match being called off; this time the UCCE side against Nottingham University, who had lost all their previous matches in the BUSA Championship.

Duke of Norfolk’s XI v Oxford University 25/05/06

Venue: Arundel
Fixture: Blues match

Result: No play - rain.

The Blues set off for Arundel, but had only travelled as far as Newbury on the A34 when the call came through stating that the ground was unfit for play following heavy overnight rain.

Oxford UCCE V Cambridge UCCE 23/05/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: UCCE Championship

Result: Match Abandoned as a Draw. Rain. No Result on 1st Innings.

After a delayed start of 2 hours to allow parts of the square to dry out, Oxford were going along quite nicely when the heavens opened preventing any further play after only 17 overs had been bowled on the 1st day’s play, with no play at all on the 2nd day.

Oxford UCCE 3 points; Cambridge UCCE 3 points.

Oxford UCCE V Cambridge UCCE 22/05/06

Venue: The Parks
Fixture: BUSA Championship

Result: No play - rain.

Heavy rain fell for most of the day, preventing any play in this BUSA Championship match.

Oxford UCCE v Midlands Club Cricket Conference 17/05/06

Venue: The Parks
Fixture: Other Match

Result: Match abandoned - rain.

OUCCE included several squad fringe players in this match.

They were performing well against strong opponents, whose players nearly all play Birmingham League cricket, when rain fell preventing any further play.

Oxford University v Harlequins 13/05/06

Venue: The Parks
Fixture: Blues Match

Result: Oxford University won by 134 runs.

In their annual encounter with Harlequins (former Oxford Blues) the University innings was dominated by Salil Oberoi, whose 99 came from just 92 balls.

The Harlequins batting looked a little rusty which resulted in the students securing an easy victory, with all their bowlers taking wickets.

Oxford UCCE v Leeds/Bradford UCCE 10/05/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: UCCE Championship

Result: Oxford UCCE won on 1st Innings.

By mid-afternoon on Day.1. Leeds/Bradford were 340-2 off just 70 overs, but then lost their last 8 wickets for 107 runs, with Nick Woods bowling 30 overs unchanged in taking 5-114.

Oxford chased the formidable target with gusto with every batsman contributing, the 50+ scorers being Peter Wilshaw (70), Steve Moreton (59), Josh Knappett (59) and Nick Woods (50). However, it was left to Mali Richards (82*) to hit the winning runs with just 1 over left to play.

Oxford score 18 points and Leeds/Bradford score 7 points.

Loughborough UCCE v Oxford UCCE 07/05/06

Venue: Loughborough
Fixture: BUSA Championship

Result: Oxford UCCE won by 2 wickets after Duckworth / Lewis calculations due to rain delay.

After losing to Cardiff, Oxford bounced back in style by defeating Loughborough in a match reduced to 40 overs each following a 45 minute stoppage for rain after 27.4 overs of the Loughborough innings.

A D/L calculation revealed that Oxford would need to score 274 to win the match, so they attacked from the start, led by Salil Oberoi ( 70 from 60 balls ) and Luke Parker ( 37 from 34 balls ) who figured in an opening partnership of 94 in just 11.5 overs.

Oxford were awarded the match when their score had reached 262 as the Umpires decreed that Loughborough had been penalised 12 runs for a slow bowling over rate.

Cardiff UCCE v Oxford UCCE 04/05/06

Venue: Panteg CC, nr Pontypool
Fixture: BUSA Championship

Result: Cardiff UCCE won by 4 wickets.

After a long journey to Panteg C.C. (near Pontypool), Oxford found it tough going when asked to bat first, despite the efforts of Luke Parker (59) and Steve Moreton (56).

Cardiff reached the target with 4 overs to spare with 2 Oxfordshire students, who play for Banbury C.C. when not at University, to the fore. Chris Smith scored 73 and Richard Kaufman scored 28* and took 2-41 with the ball.

Oxford UCCE v Exeter University 01/05/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: BUSA Championship

Result: Oxford UCCE won by 59 runs.

Oxford made an encouraging start to this season’s BUSA campaign when batting first by setting Exeter a formidable target. Salil Oberoi led the way with 86 runs from 96 balls, and figured in an 83 run partnership for the 5th wicket with Mali Richards (39).

At one stage Exeter were 35-5 in reply, but they rallied to secure a reasonable total. Ed Morse and Salil Oberoi both took 3-17 with the ball.

Oxford UCCE v Oxford Cricket Club 29/04/06

Venue: Marston Ground, Oxford
Fixture: Other Match

Result: Oxford UCCE won by 1 run.

The students were made to work hard to achieve a respectable total with Josh Knappett (38) and Peter Young (35) making useful contributions.

In an exciting finish, Oxford C.C. needed 2 runs to win off the last ball of the match with their last pair at the wicket.

Will Mottram then proceeded to shatter the batsmen’s stumps, thus giving the students a 1 run victory.

Joe Porter, a former captain of Oxford UCCE in 2001, scored a patient 53 for Oxford C.C.

Oxford University v Oxfordshire 28/04/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: Blues Match

Result: Oxford University won by 8 wickets..

The Blues won easily against a youthful County side who, on electing to bat, could not cope with the spin of Nick Woods (3-18), Salil Oberoi (2-11) and Mike Munday (3-21).

Woods (38*) and Oberoi (56*) then made short work of the modest target, and victory was achieved with more than 15 overs to spare.

MCC Young Cricketers v Oxford UCCE 25/04/06

Venue: Wolmsley
Fixture: Limited Overs Friendly

Result: MCC Young Cricketers won by 114 runs.

Rain delayed the start of this match thus reducing it to 40 overs a side. The student’s bowing made little impression with MCC-YC setting a formidable target.

Oxford performed even worse with the bat, and were all out in just 21.2 overs for a paltry 95 runs with a top individual score of 19 runs.

Oxford CC v Oxford University 23/04/06

Venue: Rover Cowley, Oxford
Fixture: Blues Match

Result: Match Abandoned - Rain.

The Blues fielded only 4 players from last season’s victorious Varsity Match side, and were made to struggle when batting with only an entertaining knock at the end by Mike Munday (24*), equalling his previous highest University score, worthy of note.

Oxford C.C. were well on their way to victory with just 93 runs required in 36 overs and 9 wickets in hand when rain prevented any further play.

Oxford UCCE v Middlesex 20/04/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: 1st Class Match

Result: Match Drawn.

Against a full strength Middlesex side Oxford again found it tough going over the first 2 days but, unlike Derbyshire in the previous match, Middlesex carried on batting on the 3rd day until 3.00pm, setting Oxford an impossible target of 482 runs in around 40 overs, leading to an inevitable draw.

Peter Young (40) and Peter Wilshaw (34) in the 1st innings, and Mali Richards (39*) in the 2nd innings batted well for Oxford, whilst former OUCCE and OUCC captain Jamie Dalrymple hit a belligerent 96 in Middlesex’s 1st innings.

It was interesting to note that Middlesex opened their 2nd innings with Hutton & Compton, grandsons of two England all-time greats of the 1940’s and 1950’s, namely former England captain Sir Len Hutton of Yorkshire and the flamboyant Denis Compton of Middlesex.

Full scorecard, BBC reports on day 1, day 2 and day 3.

Oxford UCCE v Derbyshire 15/04/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: 1st Class Match

Result: Match Drawn.

In their first 1st Class Match, the students struggled against a full strength Derbyshire side, but a generous declaration at the close on the 2nd day by the visitors set Oxford a target of 340 to win on the 3rd day. Although they did not reach this target, Oxford batted well to obtain a creditable draw, with good knocks from Steve Moreton (63), Josh Knappett (77) and Peter Wilshaw (63) on his 1st Class debut.

Read the Times and the BBC coverage; full scorecard on Cricinfo.

Oxford UCCE v Somerset 2nds 13/04/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: County 2nds 1 Day Match

This fixture was cancelled at very short notice at the request of Somerset CCC.

Oxford UCCE v Northants 2nds 10/04/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: County 2nds 1 Day Match

Result: Northants 2nds won by 4 wickets.

Oxford disappointed when batting first with only Luke Parker passing a half century with 53. However, an entertaining last wicket partnership of 47 between Mike Munday (24*) and Tarique Kalam (11) set a reasonable target for Northants 2nds, which was only reached with 7 balls to spare, despite Salil Oberoi’s 10 overs only conceding 10 runs.

Oxford UCCE v Warwickshire 2nds 06/04/06

Venue: The Parks, Oxford
Fixture: County 2nds 2 Day Match

Result: Warwickshire 2nds won on 1st Innings under UCCE Championship rules.

Oxford fared badly on opting to bat on the opening day of the new season with only 3 batsmen reaching double figures.

A strong Warwickshire 2nds side were then indebted to a 3rd wicket stand of 240 between Nick Knight (143) and Jim Troughton (111) but, once broken, their last 7 wickets fell for just 84 runs. Pick of the Oxford bowlers was Nick Woods who took 5-53 in 22 accurate overs.

In their 2nd innings, Oxford improved by reaching 166-4 by the close with useful knocks from Mali Richards (56*), Salil Oberoi (49) and Josh Knappett (45).