BOTH Oxford and Banbury face the serious threat of relegation after falling into the bottom two positions on Saturday – with just one match to play.
West Herts’ surprise two-wicket victory over Henley pushed the Oxfordshire duo closer to the trapdoor in what has become an incredibly close battle against the drop.
Only eight points separate the bottom five teams. With 25 points awarded for a victory, none of that quintet is safe.
Next Saturday, Oxford travel to fellow relegation candidates Tring Park, while Banbury entertain Falkland.
If Oxford reproduce the excellent form they showed in their draw with High Wycombe on Saturday, then they have a chance to escape.
In a match reduced to 98 overs following a delayed start, Oxford were indebted to a fine half-century from Joe Porter as they reached 206-9 from their 54 overs.
Wycombe, with 44 overs to get the runs, started brightly, but gave up the chase after they lost their fourth wicket and finished on a tame 125-6.
Banbury slipped to the bottom after having the worse of their rain-affected draw at Reading.
An inspired spell by Ollie Murrey (6-63) helped Banbury to restrict the home side to 234-6 from 62 overs, after asking them to bat first.
The Banbury reply was interrupted by two breaks for rain, so they hit out in the search for batting bonus points.
Benji Hector and Craig Haupt led the way with speedy half-centuires, but the loss of four quick wickets led to Banbury playing more cautiously.
When rain drove the players of the field five overs early, they were struggling on 159-6.