Oxford University struck two important late blows to rock Cambridge University as day two in The Parks ended with the annual Varsity Match evenly balanced.

Resuming their first innings on 171-4, the Dark Blues were bowled out for 280.

Cambridge then looked set to take a grip of the game as they eased to 119-1, before Oxford picked up two wickets for one run.

The Light Blues closed on 129-3 to trail by 151 runs with seven wickets remaining in their first innings.

Following a rain-affected first day, play started on time yesterday, and Cambridge struck two early blows.

Sam Westaway was first to go, caught by Jonno Evans off Warwickshire left-arm spinner Paul Best for 14.

Owain Jones, who had been unbeaten on 77 overnight, added just six more before being caught behind by Augustus Kennedy off medium pacer Jonathon Lodwick for 83.

That left Oxford on 180-6, but then Joe Davies and Dan Pascoe shared a half-century partnership for the seventh wicket to boost the hosts.

They were eventually parted when Davies, on his first-class debut, was trapped lbw by Thomas Probert for 31.

Pascoe was next to go for 38 when he was bowled by Lodwick to leave the Dark Blues 267-8.

Tom Chadwick chipped in with a handy 21 before snicking one behind to Kennedy off Lodwick.

And Oxford were all out when Freddie Johnson, also making his first-class debut, was adjudged lbw for nought to Lodwick, who finished with Cambridge’s best bowling figures of 4-55.

Richard Timms and Philip Hughes put on 40 for Cambridge’s first wicket, before Raj Sharma, in his fourth Varsity Match, made the breakthrough by having the latter caught behind by Westaway.

But then Timms and Tom Elliott took Cambridge to 119 before both fell within a run of each other.

Pascoe had Elliott caught by captain Ben Williams for 44.

And then Alex Scott bowled Timms for 52, which came off 166 balls with eight fours, as Oxford ended on a high note.

Scores: Oxford University 280 (O Jones 83), Cambridge University 129-3 (R Timms 52).