For the fourth time this season, Banbury fielded first, and for the third time, saw the opposition race up over 300, the first time Basingstoke & North Hants have in fact achieved this.
So Craig Haupt’s third century in four weeks could only guide Banbury to a draw in this IC3 Home Counties Division 1 game.
This lack of quality in Banbury’s attack is such that the hosts brought up the 50 in only the eighth over.
And when the first wicket finally fell, at 94, only 14 overs had been bowled!
Paul Hill’s accurate left-arm spin slowed the scoring rate to some extent, but home skipper Lee Nurse and his brother Dean put on 101 together in 26 overs for the second wicket.
Wickets did fall near the end of the innings, but for the second time in three weeks Banbury faced a target of 329.
Against South African test man Charl Willoughby, this was always going to be a stiff task and when the first three wickets what down 58 inside 16 overs it became more so.
Haupt and Steve Beck retrieved the situation with a partnership of 143 in 29 overs, Haupt completing his century off 112 balls with a six and 24 fours
The fall of three quick wickets put Banbury in danger of defeat and it was left to Richard? Kaufman and Calum Taylor to steer them to the safety of a third successive draw.