BANBURY were given a second scare this season by Horspath before emerging 78-run winners in a low-scoring Division 1 clash at the Recreation Ground.

In a match which in many ways mirrored the game between the two sides on the opening day of the season, Banbury collapsed to 166 all out after being put in to bat.

But Horspath then caved in to 88 all out as third-placed Banbury closed the gap on leaders Henley to 14 points.

With overhead conditions favouring swing bowling, Horspath skipper Will Eason, fresh from making his Oxfordshire debut, produced a superb display of 5-18 in his first spell of 14 overs to help reduce Banbury to 81-6.

But then just as they had done back in early May, Ashley Blanchard and teenager Will Briggs stopped the rot with a match-winning partnership of 79 for the seventh wicket.

Blanchard made 57 off 73 balls, with seven fours and a six, before he was trapped lbw by Adam Krol.

Briggs’s resistance was ended by Pat Foster, who mopped up the tail to finish with 4-52. Eason’s final figures were 5-40.

Horspath made a solid start in reply, but after openers Robbie Eason and Harrison Ward fell with the score on 33, Banbury got well on top.

The last six wickets fell for just 11 runs, with the pace of Karl Penhale (3-23) and off-spinner Richard West (3-10) doing the damage.

Oxford are still seeking their first win of the season after crashing to an eight-wicket defeat at Tring Park.

Skipper Ian Crosby (31) top-scored in bottom club Oxford’s 142 all out after he elected to bat first as Sam Helm (5-63) and Duncan Maddinson (3-33) did the damage.

Tring then coasted to victory at 146-2 with opener Adam Partner hitting an unbeaten 53 to see them home.

He was well supported by Sam Masters (43) and Tom Helm (36), who both fell to Shamilal Mendis.