By Ralph Dellor in The Parks
First day of three: Oxford Univ (26-1) trail Warwicks (307-7 dec) by 281 runs
A CASUAL spectator glancing at a scoreboard which read 105 for five in the 38th over remarked that the University batting had failed again. It had to be pointed out that it was Warwickshire who were batting.
Of the two students making their first-class debuts, Stuart Ferguson marked his with three wickets, but it was Tony Frost who saved Warwickshire with a maiden first-class century.
After 17 overs off-spinner Byron Byrne was beginning to extract a little turn and bounce from the wicket. Mo Sheikh walked after touching a good delivery to give wicketkeeper Jezz Barnes his first first-class victim. Five overs later he claimed a second when Michael Powell pushed forward to a ball from Ferguson which found the outside edge.
When Dominic Ostler dragged on a ball from Ferguson, David Hemp lifted Byrne to point and Graeme Welch fell lbw to left-arm spinner Charlie Lightfoot, Warwickshire appeared vulnerable. The situation became worse when Dougie Brown got out in an identical fashion to Ostler and Michael Edmond gave the deserving Byrne another wicket.
But Frost, in company with his captain, Neil Smith, steered the innings past the 300 mark with some elegant strokeplay and forceful shots. He had faced 175 balls, hitting a six and 15 fours.
Day 2: More woe for injured Munton
By Ralph Dellor in The Parks
Second day of three: Warwicks (307-7 dec & 64-0) lead Oxford Univ (269-9 dec) by 102 runs
HAVING taken his first wicket since September 1996 on the first evening, Tim Munton limped out of the Warwickshire attack after bowling 6.4 overs yesterday.
While a back injury caused him to miss all the 1997 season, this time his left hamstring is the problem.
Without him, the Warwickshire attack had to work hard to get wickets, even if containment presented no problems until the later stages of the Oxford University innings.
Jason Molins played with an appealing ease in his stay of almost 3.5 hours and Ross Garland lifted the tempo before the declaration with a deficit of 38.
Day 3: Warwicks lose way to victory
By Ralph Dellor in The Parks
Oxford Univ (269-9 dec & 124-4) drew with Warwicks (307-7 dec & 226-1 dec)
DESPITE the fact they employed the services of 10 bowlers in the match, Warwickshire were unable to force a victory on the final day in The Parks.
A deepening injury crisis was the major reason for everyone abled to stand taking their turn with the ball. Tim Munton (hamstring), Michael Edmond (shins) and Mo Sheikh (groin) were all unavailable, resulting in coach Phil Neale donning the whites.
Another likely substitute, Darren Altree, reached Oxford in plenty of time to take the field, but after four hours trying to find the ground he gave up and returned to Edgbaston.
The Oxford bowlers had similar difficulty in locating a consistent line and length, allowing Dominic Ostler and David Hemp to compile an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 150 from 36 overs.
Ostler was particularly dominant with his first first-class century for three years. He stroked 23 boundaries in his 166-ball innings.
Byron Byrne and Charlie Lightfoot later saw the University through to safety, allowing the two captains to shake hands as soon as the clock chimed 5.30.