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Day 2: Archer gains first in Oxford entrance

Neville Scott

Second day of Three: Oxford Univ (190-4) trail Notts (356-7) by 166 runs.

Only in Oxford could something as mundane as the Trading Estate near The Parks enjoy so elevated an address as Aristotle Road.

By what further logic Graeme Archer's century, more routine than most he has made for Notts' 2nd XI, is still deemed first class, only the English Cricket Board can say.

Archer's effort, in his first appearance of the summer, was certainly entertaining and hugely combative. Caught at long on going for a third six, he fell for 132 from just 173 balls on a very slow pitch. Whether runs against Oxford can regain a county place is rather more arguable. But they gave Notts a five-an-over momentum maintained until Jason Gallian's declaration at lunch.

In three overs of their reply, the University lost both openers for nought to the in-swing of left-arm seamer David Lucas. Thus arrived, for a maiden Oxford innings, Nathan Ashley. For an hour the left-hander, timing perfectly off his pads and running superbly, played a class above the student norm.

The bad news is that Ashley is from Sydney, and his Social Studies Diploma will permit just a single season.

After Ashley slashed to third man, James Bull batted with vigour before being well taken by Gallian at slip. In contrast, captain John Claughton moved with studied patience to a fifty from 155 balls.

Day 3:

Nottinghamshire's game with Oxford University ended in a draw yesterday with only 70 minutes play possible on the third and final day. The play had observed the prescribed Parks last-day pattern, but rain set in to preclude any run chase and bring an abandonment shortly after lunch.

Apparently batting on for a maiden century, captain John Claughton, the one Oxford University batsman to have passed 45 this year, immediately declared when he pulled David Lucas's slower ball to short mid-wicket and fell for a career-best 85.

Usman Afzaal and Guy Welton had, in turn, belted 50 runs from as many balls towards Nottinghamshire's own pending declaration when rain arrived. Profiting from bowling which was consistently too short, Afzaal cut and pulled with a relish he rarely displays.