The Rocky theme tune 'Eye of the Tiger' blasted out as Oxford's combined student side took the field at The Parks last night.

But by the end it was Oxfordshire's bowlers who were on the ropes, pummelled left and right by a series of boundaries.

Man-of-the-match Ronak Sekhri eventually put Oxon out of their misery to complete an emphatic six-wicket win in an increasingly entertaining game.

The friendly fixture was the second part of a day labelled 'Party @The Parks' that began with Oxford University's Cuppers Final.

Around 300 people made the most of the evening sunshine, but until Oxford UCCE started batting, they may have wondered if they were at the right venue.

Twenty20 cricket was introduced to attract new punters to England's traditional summer game with the promise of big hits on the field and on the sound system.

But Oxon, captained by Jamie Hewitt on his debut, did not appear to have grasped the slogging concept and compiled a measly five boundaries in their total of 100-9.

The students, however, were more keen to entertain and began their reply with real gusto.

Omar Anwar was the first to show with a four in the second over that was greeted by the sound of Kula Shaker's 'Hush'.

Three more boundaries followed soon before he holed out to Jimmy Phillips going for a fifth.

Mali Richards was not quite as prolific, but he had already demonstrated genuine pace with the ball and pulled off two spectacular diving catches of which Jonty Rhodes would have been proud.

The students skipper Josh Knappett upped the boundary count when he came in at No 4, but it was Sekhri who stole the show.

His left-arm spin had already seen him pick up 3-15 and once he returned to the crease with the bat, the result was never in doubt.

Oxon skipper Hewitt scored just one with the bat and bore the brunt of Sekhri's slogging.

The all-rounder, who plays club cricket for Oxford, sealed victory in the 15th over, first pulling Hewitt's attempted bouncer for four and securing the crucial runs with a towering six.

This took their boundary tally to 17 and ended the game on a high.

There were fewer high notes in Oxon's innings, but an Ian Crosby four did elicit Run DMC's 'It's Like That'.

Steve Moreton (3-21) was the students' other bowling star and he could celebrate taking Richard Kaufman's wicket with his first ball by dancing to Reef's 'Place Your Hands'.

One happy spectator was 17-year-old schoolboy Adam Hall.

He said: "With the carnival atmosphere and the music, it's all good.

"There are a lot of traditionalists who don't like the coloured clothing and white ball, but it can only be good if it gets more people into the game." SCOREBOARD OXON

A Cook c Richards b Sekhri...28

I Crosby lbw Oberoi...13

R Kaufman c Knappett b Moreton...2

Si Hole b Moreton...5

J Hewitt c Knappett b Woods...1

C Watling c Knappett b Moreton...4

D Harding st Knappett b Woods...0

O Murrey b Sekhri...8

St Hole c Ricahrds b Sekhri...5

L Ryan not out...6

J Phillips not out...0

Extras...29

Total (9 wkts, 20 ovs)...100

Fall: 1-28, 2-30, 3-54, 4-57, 5-70, 6-73, 7-88, 8-94, 9-94.

Bowling: Richards 4-0-23-0, Oberoi 4-1-11-1, Moreton 4-0-21-3, T Fox 1-0-12-0, Woods 4-0-13-2, Sekhri 3-0-15-3.

OXFORD UCCE

M Richards c Hewitt b Murrey...7

O Anwar c Phillips b Murrey...19

D Fox c & b St Hole...4

J Knappett b Murrey...20

R Sekhri not out...38

S Chorlton not out...11

Extras...6

Total (4 wkts, 14.5 ovs) ...105

Bowling: Hewitt 3.5-0--30-0, St Hole 3-0-18-1, Murrey 4-0-30-3, Wattling 2-0-24-0, Phillips 2-1-2-0.