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Day 1: Wagh back with a vengeance

Christopher Lyles

Oxford University (26-2) trail Warwickshire (337-2 dec) by 311 runs

Mark Wagh, who graduated from Oxford University last summer with a degree in psychology, returned yesterday to prey on the minds of his former colleagues. His unbeaten, career-best 216 helped Warwickshire build a formidable position on a good wicket.

Wagh's 241-ball, 37-boundary innings was an impressive display of power and temperament and left his previous highest of 126, against Kent at Canterbury last summer, far in the distance. He offered one chance, on 22, when James Louw put him down at second slip off the bowling of Alan Gofton.

Wagh was fed an appetising diet of juicy morsels, though he sometimes struggled for timing through the offside. Yet his ability to whip the ball through the midwicket area in particular, where he accumulated almost two-thirds of his boundaries, was outstanding. After a mixed start to the season, and even against a moderate attack, it was a knock which will have done his confidence the power of good.

It was all a far cry from the first hour when the students' opening attack of David Mather and Salman Khan bowled tightly to restrict the visitors to two runs an over. Mather, who bagged 10 wickets in last year's University Match with his left-arm swing, caught the eye especially, though his dismissal of Michael Powell owed a little to fortune, when the opener steered a wide long-hop to gully - it brought a fine two-handed catch by Nathan Ashley, diving to his right.

Wagh and David Hemp put on 259 in 61 overs before Hemp fell on 94, just short of centuries in successive matches, by driving wildly at Dean Kino to be caught at the wicket. The declaration followed Trevor Penney's gargantuan straight six into the press box.

Oxford soon lost Louw, padding up for the umpteenth time this season, and Ashley, who advanced down the pitch to Ashley Giles, and they may now have to do without captain John Claughton, who has a suspected chipped finger after trying to intercept a Wagh missile. What a way to be treated by a former colleague.

Day 2: Giles takes charge

Christopher Lyles

Warwickshire (337-2 dec and 222-6) lead Oxford University (158) by 401 runs

Ashley Giles enjoyed a fine all-round performance as Warwickshire consolidated their dominant position on a benign track. He took five wickets to increase his season's tally to 21 at an average of just 16, and then smashed only his second first-class century in 128 deliveries. Charles Dagnall, at Warwickshire on a one-year contract, marked his debut by trapping nightwatchman Tom Hicks with his fourth delivery in first-class cricket and finished with the excellent figures of four for 20.

Byron Byrne was the pick of the Oxford batsmen before unluckily playing on, and John Claughton, who retired hurt with a bruised finger, remained unbeaten after returning at the fall of the eighth wicket.

Day 3: Byrne just misses out

Christopher Lyles

Warwickshire (337-2 dec & 222-6 dec) beat Oxford University (158 & 272) by 129 runs

When Oxford subsided to 42 for five in pursuit of a notional target of 402, an early finish seemed assured.

But a highly polished sixth-wicket stand of 127 between Byron Byrne and John Claughton not only kept the visitors in the field until 45 minutes after tea, but also gave the Dark Blues cause for optimism as the University Match approaches.

The pair blunted the Warwickshire attack with some ease and it took an unfortunate run-out to end their partnership. Claughton was adjudged not to have made his ground by Warwickshire's director of coaching, Phil Neale, deputising for umpire John Holder, who was forced to limp off with a swollen knee.

Byrne played delightfully, and he fully utilised the vacant third man area with some agreeable late cuts before being caught on the drive at slip six runs short of a maiden first-class century.