BANBURY showed the resilience in their batting, demanded by captain Richard Kaufman the previous week, to earn a draw at Potters Bar last Saturday.
For the second week running Banbury came up against an overseas player in form, with West Indian A batsman Pat Brown scoring 164 in the hosts 329-5 total.
Banbury’s Callum Taylor steered the side to safety with a valuable unbeaten 71, including 14 boundaries.
Kaufman said: “We were happy to get the draw but I was unhappy with our bowling. We were either too short or too full and could not get any partnerships going to build up any pressure.
“I felt they were a poor side and lacked depth. If it was not for Brown and their opener Mike Palmer (who scored 100), we could have beaten them.
“If they were a more confident side they would have declared on 300 but 329 was playing very safe.”
After winning the toss yet again, Banbury struck in the third over but that proved to be their only success until the 58th.
Brown dominated the second-wicket stand with Palmer of 269, hitting two sixes and 29 fours in his 171-ball 164.
Simon Launder picked up three wickets for the cost of 104 runs. Faced with a daunting target, Banbury lost Chris Smith in the first over without scoring.
Former captain Craig Haupt steadied the ship and put on 53 for the second wicket with Paul Taylor.
Haupt went on to make 58 but Banbury were four wickets down with 77 on the board.
Kaufman continued his fine form with 51 and together with Steve Beck (18) put on 67 in 17 overs before a run-out mix-up split them two overs after tea.
Callum Taylor then took charge and marshalled the lower order to safety despite the efforts of Potters Bar seamer and former England man Mark Ilott.
Banbury host bottom side Oxford this week although Kaufman feels their position is a false one.
“We will look at our strategy and look to bat first allowing us to post a good score,” said Kaufman. “It will also take the pressure off the bowlers and an easier way to accumulate bonus points.”
Jimmy Phillips returns to the first team and Andrew Sabin will be called up from the seconds. He was supposed to play for the first last week but was not 100 per cent fit.
Kaufman said: “That will be a massive boost for us because Andrew is in form and managed 91 even with a bad hand last week. Paul Taylor will drop to six and it gives us a good balance to the batting line up.”
Kaufman and Launder will miss Banbury’s National KO Cup trip to Birmingham side Barnt Green on Sunday as they will be representing Oxfordshire against Wales at White Post Road.