Oxford University batsmen Salil Oberoi and Dan Fox were in record-breaking form on the first day of the Varsity Match against Cambridge at Fenners yesterday.

The pair added an unbroken 368 for the second-wicket as the Dark Blues amassed a mammoth 436-2 against the tiring home attack.

This stand is a record for Oxford University in first-class cricket, beating the 283 made by Iain Sutcliffe and Chinmay Gupte against Hampshire in 1995.

Oberoi, the dominant partner, was 222 not out at the close, only 17 runs short of the all-time record in the Varsity Match, set by the Nawab of Pataudi way back in 1931.

Oberoi's runs came off 299 balls and his innings contained one six and 20 fours. Fox, meanwhile, finished on 157, off 227 balls with 20 fours.

For both batsmen, it was their maiden first-class century.

They came together at 68-2, following the dismissals of Nick Woods for 16 and Paul Selvey-Clinton for 24.

The Dark Blues have won each of the last two Varsity Matches comprehensively.

Two years ago Oxford captain James Dalrymple made an unbeaten 236 as they won by an innings and 71 runs.

And in last year's match in the Parks, the Dark Blues won by an innings and 77 runs as they almost produced a unique record of hav ing three century-makers in one innings of a Varsity Match, Paul McMahon falling one short after Fox and Joe Sayers had both hit tons.

This year's contest had been expected to be a much closer affair.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY

First Innings

N Woods c Savill b Kemp...16

P Selvey-Clinton c Chervak b D Heath...24

S Oberoi not out...222

D Fox not out...157

Extras...17

Total (2 wkts, 108 ovs)...436

Fall: 1-27, 2-68.

To bat: S Daley, C Stearn, P McMahon, A Suman, G Doran, E Morse, M Munday.

Bowling: Savill 25-6-90-0, Kemp 14-0-57-1, D R Heath 14-5-48-1, Banerjee 25-4-92-0, Timms 16-0-75-0, Jacklin 14-2-68-0.