OXFORD MAIL:Banbury batsman Craig Haupt showed his liking for bottom club Oxford’s bowling again by plundering a superb century as the clash at White Post Road ended in stalemate.
Haupt, who hammered an unbeaten 156 in the corresponding fixture last year, this time made 124 to take Banbury to a formidable 307-4 off 66 overs.
Electing to bat first, Banbury were held in check by Oxford bowlers David Angove and Stewart Laudat as the opening stand of 42 between Chris Smith and Andrew Sabin occupied almost 20 overs.
However, one Laudat prised out Sabin for 15, Haupt’s arrival at the crease increased the tempo.
The second-wicket partnership of 128 took 32 overs before Chris Smith fell to Russell Adams for a steady 65.
Haupt then took advantage of Angove and Laudat being struck down by injury, to hit his second century of the season in just four innings.
His runs came from 122 balls with three sixes and 14 fours – and went a long way to justifiying Oxford captain Rupert Evans pre-match comment that he is arguably the best player in the league.
Skipper Richard Kaufman took the total past 300 with an unbeaten 62 from 39 balls off Oxford’s depleted attack, for which Adams contributed two wickets and two catches.
Openers Keith Mustow and Pat Jobson, who was promoted back up the order, gave Oxford a good start with a stand of 71 in 24 overs.
Left-arm spinner Paul Hill split the pair when he had Mustow caught by Simon Launder.
Ian Crosby was then unable to repeat his heroics of the previous night when he smashed a quickfire half century for Oxfordshire in their last-ball Twenty20 win over Oxford UCCE in The Parks.
He made just five before being bowled by Calum Taylor, but Adam Cook then shared in useful stands of 59 with Jobson and 39 with Ian Evans.
The match was heading towards a draw, but there was still time for Oxford to suffer a late scare as 187-3 became 215-7.
Cook was snapped up by wicket-keeper Danny Harding off Jimmy Phillips for 40, and two runs later Hill had Ian Evans caught by Chris Smith.
Shami Mendis, on his first-team debut, and Shazad Rana also fell cheaply to leaving Banbury suddenly with visions of victory.
However, Adams held firm to secure the draw.
BANBURY
A Sabin c Adams b Laudat…15
C Smith c Cook b Adams…65
C Haupt c Adams b Cook…124
P Taylor c Mendis b Adams…16
R Kaufman not out…62
S Beck not out…14
Extras…11
Total (4 wkts, 66ovs)…307
Fall: 1-42, 2-170, 3-208, 4-257.
Bowling: Angove 6-2-17-0, Laudat 13-5-30-1, Adams 13-2-71-2, R Evans 12-1-46-0, I Evans 3-0-18-0, Cook 8-0-74-1, Mendis 11-1-44-0.
OXFORD
K Mustow c Launder b Hill…47
P Jobson c Harding b Launder…52
I Crosby b C Taylor…5
A Cook c Harding b Phillips…40
I Evans c Smith b Hill…26
S Mendis c Phillips b P Taylor…6
R Adams not out…18
S Rana lbw P Taylor…4
S Laudat not out…0
Extras…21
Total (7 wkts, 54ovs)…219
Fall: 1-71, 2-89, 3-148, 4-187, 5-189, 6-197, 7-215.
Bowling: Phillips 13-3-35-1, Launder 17-3-37-1, Hill 8-3-21-2, Kaufman 1-0-9-0, P Taylor 7-1-33-2, C Taylor 6-0-31-1, Beck 2-0-9-0.
Banbury 14pts, Oxford 7