Worcestershire made three changes from the side, which took to the field at Trent Bridge, with Gareth Andrew, Jack Shantry and Nick Harrison, making his first-class debut, in place of Richard Jones, David Lucas and Alan Richardson, who was announced, earlier this week, as one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year.

Captain Daryl Mitchell won the toss and chose to bat first and, although conditions favoured the seamers in the morning session, Mitchell and Michael Klinger put on 124 for the first wicket until Mitchell was caught behind for 60 off 147 balls, including 6 fours. Klinger and Vikram Solanki went on to make a partnership of 155 for the second wicket, with Klinger getting his century off 191 balls before he was lbw for 120 off 243 balls, including 13 fours and 1 six, with the score on 279-2. Solanki was the third wicket to fall when he was dismissed for 83 off 131 balls, including 11 fours and 1 six and then Moeen Ali (9) and Alexei Kervezee (0) were also out before stumps on day one, when Worcestershire had reached 323-5.

On day two James Cameron and Ben Scott both made half-centuries as they went on to make the third century partnership of the innings by putting on 156 for the sixth wicket. With the score on 454 Scott was out for 73 off 133 balls, including 6 fours and in the next over Cameron was dismissed for 88 off 135 balls, including 9 fours and 2 sixes. Shaaiq Choudhry (1 no) and Andrew (2 no) were the two batsmen out in the middle when Worcestershire declared on 464-7 off 139 overs.

The students reply got off to a bad start when Andrew, in his second over, had Ben Stebbings caught by Klinger for 2, with the score on 11. But Oxford recovered as Sam Agarwal and Owain Jones made 145 for the second wicket until Choudhry got the breakthrough when he had Agarwal caught by Harrison for 76. 10 runs later Jones was trapped lbw off Shantry for 79 but Freddie Coleman and captain Ben Williams remained at the crease as the hosts went on to 213-3 at the end of day two.

On day three Coleman and Williams batted on, through most of the morning session, and their fourth wicket partnership of 183 effectively secured the draw for the students. Williams was lbw to Choudhry for 92 off 136 balls, including 13 fours and two sixes, with the score on 349-4 whilst Coleman had got to his hundred off 165 balls before he was caught and bowled off Shantry for 110 off 178 balls, including 12 fours. Oxford were eventually all out for 435 off 126.2 overs, with Shantry (4-102), Choudhry (3-82), Harrison (2-78) and Andrew (1-60) taking the wickets for the visitors.

Worcestershire had to start their second innings and in the 14 overs, that were played, the County were on 34-4 when both teams shook hands for the draw. Kervezee had a pair as he was bowled for 0, Solanki was bowled for 1, Choudhry was run out for 1 and Mitchell was lbw for 7, with Ali and Cameron both not out on 11.

WORCESTERSHIRE (464-7d & 34-4) DREW WITH OXFORD MCCU (435)