OXFORD University head coach Graham Charlesworth said the blame for the Varsity Match petering out lay more with Cambridge.

The four-day game in the Parks ended in a draw when Oxford declared on 215-5, 228 runs ahead.

Charlesworth admitted Oxford had not scored quickly enough on a slow pitch to give themselves a chance of bowling out the Light Blues, who had no time for a second innings.

With time lost due to rain on Sunday and Tuesday, the chances of either side winning were reduced.

Charlesworth said: “On the third day we spoke to Cambridge about them declaring behind and us setting up something on the last day, but they wanted to play on.

“The obligation was on them to make a game of it, but they didn’t go for that.

“When you put a side in, you try and bowl them out. If that doesn’t work you have got to be open to setting up a game.

“I’m quite surprised they didn’t go for that type of arrangment. Unfortunately we ran out of time and couldn’t really force anything.”

He added: “We ended the series level I suppose. We won the Twenty20, they won the 50-over match and the four-day game was a draw.”

Charlesworth said the game “wasn’t particularly exciting”, but stressed some positives had come out of it.

Owain Jones (83 and 54no) and captain Ben Williams (70) impressed with the bat and now join up with Sussex and Warwickshire respectively.

“They are both good players and could do quite well in the future,” said Charlesworth. “They have the attributes to play professionally.”

The match saw senior players Dan Pacoe and Raj Sharma appear for the final time after each winning four Blues.

Meanwhile, Indian all-rounder Sam Agarwal was elected Oxford’s new captain.