Cambridge University got two off the last ball to beat Oxford University by two wickets in The Parks yesterday to regain the Johnson Fry Trophy.
Batting first, Oxford hit 233-9 off their allotted 50 overs and in a tense and exciting finish the Light Blues passed the target after needing six runs off the last three balls.
Oxford's total was built on two partnerships. Last year's captain John Claughton and Neil Millar put on 90 for the second wicket and James Redmayne (50 not out) and Scott Weenink added 72 for the fifth wicket. Steady accurate bowling by seamers Salman Kahn and Alan Gofton matched by off-spinners Tom Hicks and Weenink kept Cambridge behind the required rate until the arrival of Chris Sayers at a 112-4 off 33 overs.
Sayers survived a stumping chance off Hicks when on only four, but then slammed 25 off Hicks's next two overs .
And three well-placed shots by Andy Danson off the final three balls saw the Light Blues to victory.
Scorecard:
OXFORD UNIVERSITY
J Claughton run out 39
R Smalley lbw Sheikh 7
N Millar b Pimlott 42
B Byrne b Pimlott 9
J Redmayne not out 50
S Weenink lbw Sheikh 43 Salman Kahn lbw Danson 2
A Gofton b Sheikh 1
R Garland ran out 6
T Hicks c Birks b Danson 3
G Butcher not out 0
Extras 31
Total (9 wkts, 50 ovrs) 233K
Fall: 18, 108, 109, 129, 201, 206, 209, 224, 228.
Bowling: Pimlott 10-0-30-2, Sheikh 10-0-37-3, Lowe 5-0-29-0, Howitt 7-0-35-0, Danson 8-0-44-2, Pymont 10-0-49-0.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
S Lewis b Garland 15
Q Hughes b Gofton 16
J Pymont c Smalley b Weenink 36
R Howitt st Smalley b Hicks 18
B Collins b Garland 41
C Sayers c Redmayne b Gofton 33
S Sheikh c Byrne b Salman Kahn 0
A Danson not out 17
M Birks st Smalley b Hicks 13
C Pimlott not out 12 Extras 33
Total (8 wkts, 50 ovrs) 234KFall: 30, 46, 102, 112, 174, 176, 186, 214.
Bowling: Salman Kahn 10-1-29-1, Garland 8-0-54-2, Gofton 10-1-34-2, Weenink 10-0-43-1, Hicks 9-1-49-2, Byrne 3-0-11-0.
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