Loughborough win One-day Challenge Final

A stunning performance at Lord's yesterday completed the 'perfect' season for Loughborough University's cricketers and put Loughborough's name on the third of three available titles for the second successive year.

Reeling from finding themselves at 10 for two after four overs, having lost the toss and been asked to bat, three Loughborough batsmen then re-built the innings and ultimately devastated the Oxford attack.

Captain Mark Powell batted maturely throughout the innings from the fourth over, finishing unbeaten on 96, while Steve Selwood (56)(returning for the injured John Francis) and 1st year Chris Nash (85) took the Oxford attack apart to amass a substantial 296 for 5 in their 50 overs. Nash particularly caught the eye, having just broken into the team, smashing 85 including five fours and three massive sixes into the Lord's stands. 35 of Nash's runs came in a 10-ball blast which put the game beyond Oxford's reach.

In Oxford's reply, Hugh Jones batted resiliently and aggressively to keep his side in the match and ultimately struck an attractive century. But he missed a partner to stay the course, and Loughborough's first-year fast bowler David Wigley (five for 52) ripped through the rest of Oxford's upper order, reducing them to 30 for four to win the ECB's Man-of-the-Match award. Ultimately Oxford were bowled out for 227, continuing to lose regular wickets to a persistent Loughborough attack in which Monty Panesar (3-38) also impressed.