Oxford's students turned up the heat to thrash their county rivals as the summer sun beat down on The Parks last night.

Given the ideal conditions, it was just a pity that Oxfordshire couldn't serve up a competitive finale for the 300-strong crowd.

In the course of the evening boundaries and wickets were greeted by music as diverse as Nirvana, Shania Twain and Radiohead.

But while the county struggled to find their rhythm, Oxford UCCE were all dancing to the same beat.

There were outstanding contributions from Duncan Bradshaw and captain Josh Knappett with the bat and Peter Young and Nick Woods with the ball.

But it the students' team display that Oxon simply couldn't match.

Knappett said: "Everyone played sensationally. The fielders kept switched on, the bowlers bowled well and we caught our chances.

He added: "I think it's important that we play more of this, purely for the fact that some of us are playing county cricket and may be asked to play a Twenty20 game.

"All the lads really enjoy playing it. You get more people here than normal.

"It's always a bit of a boost when you are in front of a crowd."

Electing to bat, the students began with obvious confidence and openers Steve Moreton and Peter Wilshaw were straight into their stride.

The run rate only increased when Woods and Kidlington's Duncan Bradshaw came to the crease and Oxon's Jack Brooks was the first bowler to really suffer.

His dad Don may have been one of the umpires, but he was powerless to stop Bradshaw swatting his son for 14 from his first three balls.

Phillip Evans was smashed for four fours by Woods in the next over and Oxfordshire never regained control.

Bradshaw was dropped by Evans as he reached his 50 off just 22 balls and Stewart Laudat let him off the hook again in the next over. It was a case of third time unlucky when Stuart Hole caught him at long off. Banbury spinners Luke Ryan and Jimmy Phillips put a marginal check on the run rate, but the students were still rampant.

Knappett heaved Evans for three sixes in the penultimate over before falling to a dubious lbw decision.

When Laudat smashed three fours off Tariq Kalam's first over, Oxon looked set to mount a serious challenge.

But wickets soon fell and only Adam Cook and Hole came close to hitting enough boundaries.

The game ceased to be a meaningful contest once Hole skied a catch to Will Mottram at 88-3 and ended with Jamie Hewitt and skipper Ian Hawtin pushing singles.