Hampshire vs Oxford MCCU - Day Three

Oxford MCCU hold out for draw at The Parks.

DAY THREE

Hampshire started day three with a lead of 190 and Liam Dawson and Sean Ervine looking to build quickly. Both players were quick to seize on some loose bowling by the students and quickly added 34 before Ervine perished for 32 off 38 balls. James Vince joined Dawson at the crease and the pair put on 106 in 22 overs. Dawson in particular played with a fluency that will build his confidence going into this week's game at Durham. His 86 included 13 boundaries before beign caught behind. Hampshire declared on 176-3 with Vince finishing on 50no to go with his unbeaten 48 in the first innings. 

This left Oxford MCCU with 47 overs to reach the unlikely target of 337. Hampshire started will with Chris Wood removing Coughtrie LBW with the third ball of the innings.Another three quick wickets saw Oxford slump from 31-1 to 53-4 with Balcombe, Ervine and Riazuddin all collecting a wicket. Hopes for victory were further increased as Wood and Briggs removed Waston and Young to leave students 85-6 with 19 overs still to play. However, Agarwal and Smith batted out 11 overs as a draw was finally agreed after 39 overs, Oxford finishing on 111-6.

Hampshire travel to Durham this week to take on the County Champions. Full reports and match hights will appear on The Rose Bowl web-site this week.

DAY TWO

Oxford MCCU have staged a determined fightback on the second day at the Parks, Oxford, recovering from 34/3 this morning to 144/3 at 3pm.

Captain Jak Martin (66 not out) and Duncan Bradshaw (55 not out) consolidated the innings after resuming this afternoon on 99/3.

Hampshire enjoyed the best of the first hour as David Balcombe struck twice to reduce the home side to 34/3. He had Matthew Watson caught behind for 4 before dismissing Rajiv Sharma lbw for a four-ball duck, after debutant Chris Wood struck late on last night as Oxford were left to survive seven overs before the close.

But Oxford staged a mini-recovery and provided stubborn resistance to the rest of the Hampshire bowlers with Martin, Bardshaw and Young all recording half centuries. Hamza Riazuddin made the breakthrough removing Bradshaw for 63 before Chris Wood ran through the tail to finish with 5-54 on his first team debut. Oxford MCCU were all out for 242, 162 runs behind.

Hampshire elected to send in Liam Dawson and Chris Benham to open the innings however Benham fell for 5 in the 9th over. Dawson was joined by Sean Ervine who saw Hampshire to 28-1 at the close, a lead of 190.

Hampshire will be looking for quick runs in the morning to manouvre themselves into a winning position.

Follow the live scorecard on Cricinfo.
 

DAY ONE

Hundreds from Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie led Hampshire to 403/3 declared on the first day at the Parks, Oxford.  

Stand-in captain Sean Ervine won the toss and chose to have first use of a good-looking pitch, before Hampshire openers Michael Carberry and Liam Dawson gave Hampshire a solid start to the three-day match.

Hampshire went to lunch on 127/1, Dawson having been the only casualty of the session when he fell to Dan Conway for 32, with the score on 72. That brought Neil McKenzie to the crease, who made his way watchfully to 9, while Carberry stroked 12 fours and a six to go to lunch on 76 not out.

Carberry and McKenzie continued to domiate during the afternoon session, amassing 170 runs between them in only 36 overs. Carberry reached three figures off only 135 balls and went on to pass 150. Meanwhile McKenzie began to accelerate his scoring rate and closed in on his own hundred. At tea Hampshire were 291/1.

Almost immediately after the restart, Carberry's magnificent knock was ended by Bradshaw who also snared Chris Benham, caught behind for 5, in a fine spell after the break. This brought James Vince to the crease and he shared and unbroken stand of 100 with McKenzie who reached his first Hampshire century off 182 balls. Hampshire declared their innings on 404/3 with Vince 46 not out and McKenzie unbeaten on 141. 

Hampshire team against Oxford MCCU:

Michael Carberry, Liam Dawson, Neil McKenzie, Chris Benham, James Vince, Sean Ervine, Michael Bates, Hamza Riazzudin, Chris Wood, David Balcombe, Danny Briggs
 

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