Date-stamped : 22 Apr97 - 06:19 Morgan and Patel keep Wagh happy By Ralph Dellor in The Parks First day of three: Hants (9-0) trail Oxford Univ (243-9 dec) by 234 runs CONSIDERING they had been 36 for seven in their first match against Durham earlier this week, Oxford University`s decision to bat first on winning the toss yesterday could have been termed courageous. As it transpired, there were enough promising contributions from student batsmen to justify captain Mark Wagh`s positive move. On a pitch which itself set few tests that well- organised batsmen could not answer, Hampshire`s attack appeared to hold as much terror as the surface. Against more destructive opposition they could face a tiring summer. They bowled a strange mixture comprising enough straight balls to get seven wickets bowled or lbw, but interspersed those deliveries with some altogether more wayward offerings which resulted in 12 wides. Charlie Lightfoot batted with a sound technique and enough attacking flair to seize on anything deserving punishment. He put on 50 for the second wicket with Jamie Haynes before the opener played all round and over the full toss with which Shaun Udal began his spell. The major stand, however, was for the seventh wicket between Peter Morgan, who marked his debut with an accomplished innings containing a six and 12 fours, and Chetan Patel. Their 99 runs allowed Wagh to stay in command with a declaration, although bad light prevented Hampshire`s reply from taking much shape. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Kent-registered teenager Ed Smith scored his third century for Cambridge University when dominating his side`s reply against Leicestershire at Fenner`s. The 19-year-old undergraduate, who scored a century on his first-class debut against Glamorgan last season, hit a career- best 142 not out as the University made 261 for six in reply to the county champions` 451 for three. Leicestershire, having reached 439 on the first day, batted on just long enough for Jon Dakin to complete his second century. The declaration, with Aftab Habib unbeaten on 175, was immediate. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) =================================>Day 3 University Cricket: Spirited draw for Oxford By Ralph Dellor in The Parks Oxford Univ (243-9 dec & 193-7) drew with Hants (415-5 dec) THANKS to some dogged resistance from the lower order, a pitch which stayed true to the end and a Hampshire attack lacking Cardigan Connor with a neck injury, the University batsmen fought out a spirited draw. Hampshire batted on to allow Matthew Keech to reach his second first-class century and a career-best score. The Oxford second innings got off to a discouraging start when Jamie Haynes was taken at second slip in the second over. Three more wickets fell with only 54 on the board, but Byron Byrne, an Australian post-graduate, engineered a recovery with help from James Fulton. Byrne fell just short of his 50, then Chetan Patel and Alex Scrini played with composure, putting on 56 together in 95 minutes. Scoreboard Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)