Sam Weller lifts MCCU Challenge Cup with Oxford
Tuesday 21st June 2016
Kent Cricket Academy graduate Sam Weller lifted the MCC Universities Challenge Cup as his Oxford side defeated Loughborough at Lord’s.
The 21-year-old seamer, in his final year at Oxford Brookes University, scored 36 after being invited to bat first under cloudy skies at the Home of Cricket.
Oxford scored 267 with Zimbabwean opener Malcolm Lake (89) and left-hander Bruno Broughton (90) the mainstays.
Weller smashed three fours and two sixes in a stand of 63 in 55 balls with Beoughton for the sixth wicket.
In reply, favourites Loughborough started strongly before Suffolk seamer James Poulson and left-armer Steven Green chipped in with some key wickets.
Poulson removed opener Thurston to reduce Loughborough to 141 for 3 in 26 overs, still on course for the victory target.
The pair bowled well in tandem with Poulson dismissing White before Green ripped out the middle order of Burgess, Akram and McKinlay to leave the tail exposed.
Weller brough himself back into the attack to bowl Sam Grant before Lake capped a fine all-round display to take the last two Loughborough wickets and finish with 3/36.