CHERWELL LEAGUE

Match of the Day

OXFORD 2nd seamer Waqas Latif took a wicket in each of his first four overs to rip the heart out of Shipton’s middle order in this Division 1 clash.

He went on to finish with 5-26 from a devastating seven-over spell, but it was not enough to secure victory as the visitors held on for a draw.

Latif's successes were due in part to the contribution of Aussie left-arm paceman Adam Price (3-36), who produced a hostile spell at the other end to put Shipton on the back foot.

Both were well supported behind the wicket, where a succession of sharp chances were pouched.

Shipton had started well in pursuit of Oxford’s 208-7, but the loss of Jason Hunt for 37 and the introduction of Latif sparked a collapse that saw them spiral from 58-0 to 92-6.

But with victory in sight, Oxford seemed more intent on racing through their overs within the allotted time than finishing the job, and the visitors held on with relative ease.

Earlier, Oxford had been in trouble on 104-6 in the 30th over, before a 103-run partnership between Tim Sutton (82) and Philip Evans, whose 41 not out came from 67 balls, gave them what proved to be an unassailable total.

With Horspath already on course for the title, the battle is likely to be for second place. On this evidence, Oxford are well armed for the contest.

Oxford 2nd 18pts, Shipton-under-Wychwood 5