Home Counties Premier: Johnny Nambiar hit a superb maiden league century as Oxford were held to a draw by Slough in a high-scoring Division 1 clash at St Catherine's College, Marston.

Johnny NambiarThe 19-year-old Indian batsman, in just his fourth Home Counties game, played shots all round the ground in making a chanceless 123 out of Oxford's formidable 298-8.

Opening with Robbie Eason in a new-look batting order, Nambiar made his first 50 off 119 balls, before stepping up a gear to race to his ton off a further 48 balls.

When he was eventually caught at long on by Geyhas Khan off Mohsin Uddin, the Surrey University student had hit 14 fours and faced 181 balls.

He shared in a fifth-wicket stand of 131 with Adam Cook, who made a fine 72 from 93 balls, to take Oxford from a somewhat perilous 84-4 to 215-5.

Ian Crosby then hit a quickfire unbeaten 29 as Oxford finished with a flourish, Mohsin Uddin returning figures of 5-89.

Russell Lane and Geyhas Khan got Slough - who were without skipper Bobby Sher - off to an impressive start in reply, putting on 123 for the first wicket.

But Oxford skipper Rupert Evans made the breakthrough, bowling Lane for 66.

The veteran off-spinner than had the dangerous Perveiz Aziz caught by Shahbaz Ali in his next over.

Evans struck again, trapping Steve Naylor lbw, before Crosby took a fine catch on the boundary off Cook to remove Geyhas Khan for 77.

With Evans knocking back Ali Ahmed's stumps and Cook bowling Andy Ward, Oxford scented victory with the visitors on 179-6 and 15 overs remaining.

But Mohammed Khan and Ali Beg put on a stand of 67 for the seventh wicket to steer Slough to 253-7 at the close, Evans finishing with 4-59 off 16 overs.

There was a nasty moment during their partnership for Oxford's Ian Evans when a full-blooded shot from Beg smacked him on the helmet while he was fielding at short leg.

Evans left the field two overs later and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital after the match for a precautionary check, before being allowed home later that night.

OXFORD

J Nambiar c Geyhas Khan b Mohsin Uddin...123

R Eason c Mohammed Khan b Mohsin Uddin...16

S Laudat c Ward b Mohsin Uddin...12

K Mustow b Mohsin Uddin...8

I Evans c & b Mohammed Khan...1

A Cook c Geyhas Khan b Naheem Amin...72

G Charlesworth c Naylor b Mohsin Uddin...5

I Crosby not out...29

Shahbaz Ali run out...3

R Buchanan not out...1

Extras...28

Total (8 wkts, 66 ov)...298

Fall: 1-37, 2-58, 3-77, 4-84, 5-215, 6-231, 7-272, 8-292.

Bowling: Naylor 8-2-40-0, Mohsin Uddin 23-6-89-5, Mohammed Khan 17-4-48-1, Perveiz Aziz 8-0-32-0, Attiq Uddin 2-0-19-0, Naheem Amin 8-0-54-1.

SLOUGH

R Lane b R Evans...66

Geyhas Khan c Crosby b Cook...77

Perveiz Aziz c Shahbaz Ali b R Evans...3

S Naylor lbw R Evans...12

Ali Ahmed b R Evans...8

Mohammed Khan not out...44

A Ward b Cook...0

Ali Beg c Mustow b Cook...32

Naheem Amin not out...5

Extras...6

Total (7 wkts, 54 ov)...253

Fall: 1-123, 2-127, 3-153, 4-163, 5-178, 6-179, 7-246.

Bowling: Charlesworth 8-1-26-0, Shahbaz Ali 3-0-28-0, Cook 18-2-99-3, R Evans 16-2-59-4, I Evans 6-0-27-0, Nambiar 3-0-9-0

** Oxford 13pts, Slough 10