Sam Agarwal produced a sensational match-winning display as Oxford University thrashed Cambridge by 53 runs in The Parks on Friday night.

In glorious conditions, man-of-the-match Agarwal’s sup-erb display with the bat set up the Dark Blues for victory in front of more than 1,000 partisan spectators.

With the coloured clothing and pink ball, this really was a spectacle, and with ECB chairman Giles Clarke in attendance, the students put on a dazzling display.

Batting first, Oxford openers Dan King and Agarwal put on 128 for the first wicket in 16.1 overs, before some lusty blows from captain Raj Sharma saw them to a formidable 178-2 from their 20 overs.

But it was Agarwal’s knock that took the plaudits, his 88 coming off 58 balls, including 11 fours and a six.

In reply, Cambridge saw wickets fall regularly.

Pick of the Oxford bowlers was Dan Pascoe, who took the vital wicket of Richard Timms to finish with 3-7.

Only Frankie Brown stood out with 38 from 29 balls, but when he fell to a brilliant catch by Agarwal in the deep, Cambridge were dismissed for 125.