10:41pm Sunday 2nd August 2009
All-rounder Nick Ferraby’s five-wicket haul gave Oxford a lift as they battled out a rain-affected draw against Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 leaders Henley at Roman Way on Saturday.
Following heavy rain, the start was delayed until 2.15pm, and the game reduced in overs.
Oxford skipper Jason Harrison put Henley in to bat after winning the toss.
And, with medium pacer Ferraby (5-49) and leg-spinner Shamilal Mendis (4-27) tak ing advantage of favourable conditions Henley collapsed to 146 all out.
Oxford were left 32 overs to get the runs, but found batting equally difficult and closed on 103-7.
Henley lost their first wicket at 28 when Michael Roberts was lbw to Raj Sharma, and David Barnes was then caught by Stuart Hole off Ferraby.
Ex-Middlesex man Chad Keegan, who is on trial at Sussex, and Jonathon McLean took the score to 91 when Henley lost two wickets to Mendis.
His leg-spin deceived McLean, who was stumped by Jamie Perkin to leave Henley 91-3, and he then had skipper Bjorn Mordt caught by Francois Vainker for a duck.
Henley’s innings continued to subside and Ferraby trapped Carl Crowe lbw, before bowling Keegan one short of his half-century, with his runs coming off 66 balls.
Ferraby hit the stumps again to remove James Morris and Euan Brock.
David Allaway made a lively unbeaten 25, before Mendis had Tom Lambert caught behind and then bowled Stewart Davison to end the innings.
Oxford made a poor start in reply, with Harrison caught by Mordt off Lambert with only eight runs on the board.
Lambert struck again, bowling Stuart Laudat and Ferraby went on the same score, caught by Brock off Keegan to leave Oxford 33-3.
Keegan then shattered Sharma’s stumps, and when Graham Charlesworth and David Smith fell in quick succession, Oxford were 57-6.
Charlesworth was caught by Crowe off Mordt, while Barnes snapped up the catch to dismiss Smith off Keegan, who took 3-31.
Hole and Perkin steadied the ship, before the former was caught by McLean off Crowe, but by then the match was destined for a draw.
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