THE cricket season returned to The Parks yesterday and the sun shone on Oxford MCCU against Nottinghamshire.

The students marked the opening day of the first-class fixtures by bowling out the visitors for a modest 237.

They replied with 30-2.

Oxford chose to field on winning the toss and were quick to make inroads into the Notts innings as Steven Mullaney was bowled by Charles Morris for a duck.

Fellow opener Sam Kelsall held the innings together with a half-century, while former England wicket-keeper Chris Read chipped in with 47.

Wickets fell at regular intervals, however, as Morris bagged two more victims, including Kelsall for a top score of 57 and former England all-rounder Samit Patel for 13.

Another ex-England Test player, Ajmal Shahzad, and Jake Ball got in the 30s before the tail succumbed to Aston Rowant pair Nick Ferraby and Karl Penhale.

Morris returned impressive figures of 3-41 off his 18 overs.

The students lost Banbury opener Lloyd Sabin for nought and Steven Leach for nine when they replied, but Lloyd Paternott and Morris stood firm.