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Day 1: Ashley rescues Oxford

David Green

A High-quality innings of 96 from Australia post-graduate Nathan Ashley, scored off only 111 balls, rescued Oxford who were poorly placed at 31 for three after they had chosen to take first use of an easy-paced pitch.

Brendan Byrne lent Ashley useful support in a stand of 122, after which wickets fell steadily in the face of some good Cambridge bowling, especially from Richard Halsall. Oxford needed a last-wicket stand of 39 to boost their total to respectability.

Oxford lost James Louw in the first over, playing-on to Samir Sheikh, whose slingy action generated some pace. John Claughton was yorked and then Halsall, having switched to the Nursery End, moved one away to find James Bull's outside edge.

Ashley, initially overlooked for a trial because his over-modest CV omitted to mention that he had captained Australia Under-19s and gained a scholarship to the Academy in 1994, soon revealed the typical left-hander's facility off his legs.

Neat and compact, Ashley cover-drove fluently and exploited the short Tavern boundary with fierce pulls.

Ashley fell leg before to Sheikh, having hit two sixes and eight fours after which Cambridge got on top. Alan Gofton, though, resisted stoutly for 67 minutes before Salman Khan and David Mather produced a productive finale, Khan in particular, playing attractively.

Cambridge began cautiously, taking 18 overs to reach 37 before Simon Lewis was lbw half forward to Khan, but a diligent half-century from Imraan Mohammed, son of Pakistan Test batsman, Sadiq, ensured that Cambridge ended the day well-placed.

Day 3: Cambridge denied by Australians

David Green

Oxford Univ (259 & 203-6) drew with Cambridge Univ (411)

A Combination of rain, which prevented play for 105 minutes after lunch, and fallible catching cost Cambridge a second successive victory over Oxford, who were 51 runs on with seven overs remaining when Cambridge conceded the draw.

Oxford's Australian connection again proved valuable, Byron Byrne making a valuable unbeaten 49 to follow fellow-countryman Nathan Ashley's first innings 96, while Tom Hicks, sent in as nightwatchman on Saturday, made 54.

However, Hicks, missed on Saturday when four, survived further chances yesterday at 12 and 27, while Byrne was dropped on 26 at 171 for six when Oxford were only 19 runs on with a possible 16 overs remaining.

Oxford, 43 for one overnight, soon lost James Bull. John Claughton defended doggedly until deceived by Greg Loveridge's flighted leg-spinner, then Ashley was well caught at short-extra driving at Samir Sheikh. Byrne, though occasionally uneasy against Loveridge, dealt positively with the other Cambridge bowlers.

Cambridge had established a firm grip by their batting on Saturday. Imraan Mohammed made 87, captain Quentin Hughes scored a maiden century and James Pyemont, formerly with Sussex, made an attractive 90.