Oxford Universities CCE's three-day match with Middlesex ended in a predictable draw in The Parks yesterday - but not before Simon Cook caused a few palpitations in the home camp.

Oxford's target of 269 in 85 minutes and 20 overs was academic, but when former Oxfordshire under 19 seamer Cook took three quick wickets to reduce the home side to 21-3, a Middlesex win was still a possibility.

He had Matt Floyd caught at the wicket in his second over, uprooted Jamie Dalrymple's off stump two overs later and then had Charlie Warren caught behind.

It gave Cook match figures of 6-33, but Joe Porter and Hugh Jones stood firm and with the score at 45-3 the captain settled for a draw.

Earlier, Middlesex opted for batting practice when they resumed at 56-1 with Mike Roseberry and Owais Shah leading the way before Angus Fraser declared at 210-4.

MIDDLESEX

First innings 269 (B Hutton 133, T Mees 6-64).

Second Innings

(Overnight 56-1)

M Roseberry b Sharpe...87

S Fleming c Warren b Mees...30

O Shah c and b Hicks...56

B Hutton not out...5

P Weekes not out...5

Extras...24

Total (4 wkts dec)...210

Fall: 2-72, 3-177, 4-201.

Bowling: Mees 22-4-67-1, Salman Khan 17-5-34-1, Hicks 5-0-16-1, Sharpe 13-3-49-1, Dalrymple 13-1-32-0.

OXFORD UNIV CCE

First Innings 191.

Second Innings

C Warren c Nash b Cook...7

M Floyd c Nash b Cook...0

J Dalrymple b Cook...1

J Porter not out...17

H Jones not out...11

Extras...9

Total (3 wkts)...45

Fall: 1-4, 2-8, 3-21.

Bowling: Bloomfield 7-4-7-0, Cook 9-6-10-3, Fraser 5-2-5-0, Hutton 5-2-19-0, Tufnell 3-2-1-0.

Match drawn