Oxford UCCE's three-day match against Hampshire was abandoned yesterday as a draw when a heavy shower prevented the last 17 overs being bowled.

A draw in Oxford's last first-class match of the season in the Parks was always the likely result with Hampshire 150-4 in their second innings after being challenged to score 291 in three hours.

Australian Ed Cowan was unluckily dismissed for 99 in Oxford's second innings.

He added 117 for the second wicket with Stephen Lowe and in a late assault after lunch Stuart Airey and Tom Mees put on 70 off nine overs before the declaration at 271-7.

Three quick wickets by leg-spinner Michael Munday and another by Paul McMahon slowed the scoring rate and put Hants well behind the clock.

OXFORD UCCE

First Innings 281 (J Sayers 122, E Cowan 45, S Udal 4-50)

Second Innings

J Sayers c Morris b Thorburn ...3

S Lowe lbw Udal ...38

E Cowan lbw Udal ...99

H Jones c Kenway b Bruce ...8

O Anwar c Brunnschweiler b Bruce ...0

W Howard c Bruce b Udal ...19

S Airey not out ...46

P McMahon c Brunnschweiler b Udal ...7

T Mees not out ...36

Extras...15

Total (7 wkts dec)...271

Fall: 1-3, 2-120, 3-137, 4-143, 5-171, 6-190, 7-201.

Bowling: Bruce 14-1-61-2, Thorburn 14-1-67-1, Hamblin 11-5-24-0, Mascarenhas 11-3-37-0, Prittipaul 1-1-0-0, Udal 18-5-58-4, Kendall 1.3-0-19-0.

HAMPSHIRE

First Innings

D Kenway lbw Mees ...35

J Hamblin c Lowe b Mees...20

W Kendall c Munday b McMahon...114

A Morris st Howard b McMahon... 1

L Prittipaul not out...69

Extras...23

Total (4 wkts)...262

Fall: 1-46, 2-98, 3-101, 4-262.

Bowling: Mees 18-4-68-2, Airey 9-0-50-0, McMahon 23.4-5-70-2, Linley 5-1-40-0, Munday 7-0-23-0.

Second Innings

D Kenway b Munday...68

J Hamblin b Munday...34

A Morris lbw McMahon...20

A Mascarenhas not out...16

D Clapp st Howard b Munday...4

S Udal not out...0

Extras...8

Total (4 wkts)...150

Fall: 1-105, 2-114, 3-143, 4-150.

Bowling: Mees 7-0-39-0, Airey 4-1-16-0, Linley 5-1-23-0, McMahon 10.2-0-35-1, Munday 9-0-33-3.

Match drawn.