CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Day 1: Stephenson's rocket start

Christopher Lyles at The Parks

First day of three: Hampshire 291-3 v Oxford Univ

John Stephenson eased himself into the new season by compiling an untroubled 136 against a moderate University attack to procure only his sixth century in his fifth year at Hampshire.

On a sluggish pitch, he was a model of concentration as he simply waited for the bad delivery, of which there were a number.

He offered one chance, when on 18, before eventually holing out to long-on and his innings, which spanned 287 balls, included 24 fours and one six.

He shared an unbroken stand of 89 with Robin Smith before his captain retired hurt as a precaution after feeling spasms in his left hand. Adrian Aymes then carried on the serene progress of the former England player.

Left-arm seamer David Mather was the pick of the students' attack and he removed Giles White and Will Kendall in similar fashion by swinging the ball back into the right-handers.

They were rare successes for the Dark Blues, who generally acquitted themselves well in the field on a biting Oxford day, although they were grateful to be able to wrap their hands around a warm cup of tea at the first two drinks intervals.

Day 2: Slow going for Oxford

Christopher Lyles in The Parks

Second day of three: Oxford Univ (115-7) trail Hampshire (397-5 dec) by 282 runs

``Oxford will beat Cambridge in the University Match this year,'' said Jack Potter, the Dark Blues' coach, yesterday. He may not be allowing for the vagaries of the English weather, but he knows a thing or two about cricket.

The 60-year-old Potter was the inaugural head coach of the fabled Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide, where he harnessed the talent of future luminaries like Shane Warne, Michael Slater and Justin Langer.

In his current capacity, he is attempting to impart the mental skills of the game as much as the technical nuances, and there is certainly work to be done if his charges are to prevail at Lord's in June.

After Adrian Aymes had retired hurt overnight with a mysterious case of 'Oxford Knee,' which nevertheless permitted him to keep wicket, Derek Kenway took the chance to score an unruffled second first-class fifty against an attack which relies on line and length rather than pace and guile.

Although they sold their wickets dearly, apart from Byron Byrne's ugly hoick, Oxford struggled with the bat as Shaun Udal began to achieve some slow turn. Only wicketkeeper Jezz Barnes offered any resistance and he was still there at stumps.

Day 3: Morris makes most of batting practice

Christopher Lyles in The Parks

Hampshire (397-5 dec & 97-0 dec) drew with Oxford Univ (191 & 30-3).

Alex Morris, Hampshire's very own pony-tailed Yorkshireman, enjoyed a fruitful all-round performance yesterday as the match predictably petered out into a draw.

After finishing with the excellent figures of 4-30 on a pitch that remained easy paced, he then smashed an unbeaten 58 from 55 balls, including a dozen boundaries, mostly through cover and third man, to record his highest score for Hampshire.

It vindicated Robin Smith's decision to opt for extra batting practice rather than enforce the follow-on, especially as a subsequent shower held up play for an hour and dashed any hopes of a competitive declaration.

Oxford's top order limped to 30 for three, which was disappointing after the tail had continued to distinguish itself. Jezz Barnes, due to be ordained as a deacon in St Paul's Cathedral in July, and Tom Hicks, a freshman studying French, again showed a calm temperament and no little technique before departing in quick succession.

There followed an entertaining last-wicket stand of 24 between Salman Kahn and David Mather, who last season scored one first-class run between them. Kahn drove Dimitri Mascarenhas for a straight six before being caught behind just before lunch - which was just as well for this Muslim who hastened (on his bike and in his cricket whites) to the local mosque before reappearing 20 minutes after lunch.