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RECORDS do not divulge whether anyone sporting a ponytail has ever opened the bowling for Oxford University. If not, Chris Battarbee has broken new ground and, eccentric hairstyle apart, made a very favourable impression on his debut.

With his 32nd ball in first-class cricket he had Yorkshire's England A opener Michael Vaughan expertly taken in the gully and with his 34th had David Byas nervously awaiting the umpire's judgment on an lbw appeal.

Martyn Moxon must have suffered even greater anxiety when hit on the pads by Gavin Wright three overs later. Wright, himself a Yorkshireman, did claim Moxon's wicket with the help of another gully catch.

It was not until after tea that the batsmen broke free, with Byas and Anthony McGrath adding 112 from 20 overs as both moved on to centuries. After declaration, the University were left a difficult 40 minutes batting during which Darren Gough and Chris Silverwood gave them a torrid time - a little too hot for Roger Hudson and Charlie Lightfoot.