OXFORD’S Home Counties Premier League Division 1 relegation worries increased as they crashed to an eight-wicket defeat at bottom club West Herts.
Crucially, Oxford skipper Pat Jobson lost the toss and saw his side inserted on a damp pitch.
Former Worcestershire and Kent left-arm seamer Alamgir Sheriyar was quick to exploit the favourable conditions, removing Simon Hole, Stewart Laudat and Joe Porter cheaply to leave Oxford 48-3.
He then trapped Jobson for a valiant 40, before skipper Matt Smith got in on the act with his off- spinners.
He snapped up Stuart Hole, Adam Cook and Jonno Evans for the addition of one run as Oxford slumped to 82-7.
Sheriyar completed a five-wicket haul by dismissing Shamilal Mendis with the score on 116.
Jack Brooks, who batted well for 40, finally fell to Smith and when Philip Evans was run out by the West Herts captain, Oxford had capitulated for 149, Sheriyar finishing with 5-54 and Smith 4-30.
It never looked likely to be enough as Neil Parlane and John Gulson put on 85 for the first wicket, before veteran off-spinner Rupert Evans trapped the latter lbw.
Evans also appeared unfortunate not to claim Parlane’s wicket with the umpire turning down a big appeal for a catch at short leg.
Stuart Hole had Duncan Hodges caught by his brother, Simon, with the score on 131.
But Parlane, who finished unbeaten on 70, saw the basement boys home – and leave Oxford a point above the relegation places.
BANBURY slipped back into the bottom two with a 32-run defeat away to fellow strugglers Tring Park.
Tight bowling from Banbury restricted Tring to 188-8 from their 64 overs, Tom Brooks hitting 50.
But then Banbury found run-scoring equally hard as they collapsed to 156 all out off 41.3 overs.
Only powerful left-hander Craig Haupt made any impact with 57 as Duncan Spencer took 5-19.
Henley were held to a draw at Finchampstead, who made 229 from 63 overs.
Jono McLean led the Henley reply with an unbeaten 68, but they had to settle for a share of the spoils, finishing on 212-7 off 50 overs.
TAUQEER Hussain’s five-wicket haul helped Kidlington to a 57-run victory over Basingstoke & North Hants in a rain-affected match at Stratfield Brake in Division 2 West.
Having being put in to bat, Kidlington made 194-9 from their 60 overs.
The total was based around a 102-run stand for the third wicket between Nawaz Ali (65) and skipper Andy Buckingham (70) as Chris Chandler took 4-42.
Basingstoke lost wickets at regular intervals – mainly to Tauqeer, who went on to pick up 5-34.
A break for rain then saw Basingstoke’s innings reduced to 46 overs and provided them with the chance of escaping with a draw.
However, Nawaz Ali removed the obstinate Chandler with his occasional off spin before Tauqeer claimed the final wicket with an over to spare.
BICESTER & North Oxford’s wretched season hit a new low as they were bowled out for a Home Counties club record lowest score of 25 as they slumped to a 210-run defeat at home to Farnham Royal.
The paltry total was ten runs worse than the 35 they posted against Gerrards Cross last year.
Krishmar Santokie took 7-10 as Bicester’s innings lasted just 16.3 overs.
Earlier the leaders had made 235-8, Lee Mason taking 6-67.
Steve Merry’s 6-33 proved in vain for Thame Town as they slipped to a 66-run defeat at Gerrards Cross.
Merry’s spell saw the home side held to 177-9, but Thame then crashed to 111 all out.