Dominic Farrell
Surrey were the only winner on the final day of this week’s MCCU-county games as the early spring weather contributed to five of the six contests ending in draws.
Cambridge MCCU’s race was long run before adverse conditions came into play as Surrey wrapped up a 302-run victory at Fenner’s by lunch.
The hosts were a good distance behind the eight-ball after Stuart Meaker ran through them on day one and the 25-year-old paceman was among the wickets once more with 3-38 to complete enviable match figures of 9-44.
For the second time Nipuna Senaratne was the only top-order Cambridge batsman to reach double figures as he top scored with 25 – an effort that was belatedly supported by a breezy 24 not out from number nine Alasdair Pollock amid 121 all out.
Of the other LV=County Championship sides, Nottinghamshire were the closest to forcing a win against Oxford MCCU.
Steven Mullaney registered a half-century as Notts declared their second innings on 175 for six, setting the students a nominal 311 to win, and when the same player’s medium pace removed Karl Penhale for 21 they were 82 for nine.
Seamer Andy Carter was the pick of the visitors’ attack with wonderful figures of 4-7 from eight overs but a combination of bad light and rain spared Oxford four runs further on.
Steffan Piolet completed an unbeaten century for Sussex, who declared their second innigns on 234 for eight at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground – 562 ahead of Loughborough MCCU.
As in the first innings, left-arm seamer Lewis Hatchett claimed four wickets, including opener Mark Best caught behind after a fine 50.
Skipper Adam Riley was Loughborough’s other star performer on day three. After the off-spinner’s 4-61 took him to nine in the match, he compiled an unbeaten 22 on the back of wicketkeeper Michael Burgess run out for 49 by the times hands were shaken at 224 for eight.
Derbyshire had designs on an innings victory over Durham MCCU as Tony Palladino claimed his 250th first-class wicket.
On the back of 67 all out first time around, the visitors were comfortably in arrears but faired better on a truncated day – Cameron Steel and Hugo Darby scoring the bulk of 158 for six with 44 and 65 respectively in a second-wicket stand of 112.
Jonny Bairstow followed the exploits of England colleague Gary Ballance yesterday by scoring a century for Yorkshire against Leeds/Bradford MCCU.
Unbeaten overnight on 61, Bairstow was the penultimate man to fall for a 123 containing 12 fours and three sixes before Yorkshire’s first innings was wrapped up for 454.
Leading by 315, the White Rose might have harboured hopes of an innings victory with Leeds/Bradford 63 for two at tea, but bad light meant no further play was possible.
The end arrived sooner in the Welsh capital where Glamorgan faced Cardiff MCCU.
William Bragg scored an unbeaten 100 as Glamorgan declared 367 ahead on 117 for one, half centurion Gareth Rees the only batsman dismissed.
Cardiff reached 27 for one in their second innings after David Lloyd had Jake Libby caught at the wicket.