Rain ends Banbury’s title hopes

With leaders High Wycombe struggling and Oxford’s game abandoned, Banbury knew a win would be enough as they chased down Henley’s total of 205 all out.

Paul Taylor took 5-67 and Ryan Newhook 3-67 to give Banbury a great chance of a win. Paul Carter top-scored for Henley with 64.

Banbury opener Chris Smith gave his side a good platform with 59 and they had looked like going on to win at 125-2, with Benji Hector on 49 and Craig Haupt 15 at the crease.

The game was plagued by rain and in normal circumstances, it would have been called off. However, with the game having massive importance, the sides played on but the umpires had to eventually call the game off when Banbury would probably have gone on to win the game.

The nine points Banbury got from the draw was not enough to overhaul High Wycombe on the last game of the season.

This means it was so near yet so far for Banbury, who failed to win the title despite having the top bowler in the league – veteran seamer Paul Taylor with 52 wickets – and the biggest run scorer – captain Benji Hector, whose tally of 735 bettered his haul last year.

The weather was to provide the final twist and hand High Wycombe the title as they squeezed the final 3 points out of their match at Welwyn Garden City. The title could so easily have gone to Banbury, Tring Park, Oxford or Radlett had rain not intervened.

At the other end of division one, Slough’s match at Falkland was cancelled meaning that if Reading could win at Tring Park they would retain their premier status. It was not to be. Only one over was possible and so Reading and Falkland drop to division Two West next season.

SOURCE: BG