BANBURY missed the chance to take control of the Division 1 title race as they suffered a ninerun defeat to new leaders High Wycombe.

They are now nine points adrift in third, while victory would have seen them top the table ahead of former leaders Henley, who were beaten by 19 runs against Burnham.

After the visitors set 226-9, Luke Ryan taking 5-30, Banbury fell short despite a 95- run partnership between Chad Keegan (58) and Richard West (53) for the sixth wicket.

Wycombe started well and after a third-wicket stand of 64 between Nathan Hawkes (80no) and Adam Hose (47) were 127-2.

However, the introduction of Ryan saw the hosts take wickets at regular intervals.

The Banbury skipper dismissed Alan Duncan and Kyle Simmonds in the same over as Wycombe posted 226-9.

In reply, Banbury got off to a poor start when Hugo Darby was trapped lbw for four.

And wickets fell regularly as they struggled to 89-5.

Keegan, who hit 58 off 54 balls, and West helped the hosts back into the game at 184-5.

However, once they fell only Karl Penhale contributed in the tale as Banbury fell short.

Shahbaz Ali hit a brilliant unbeaten 97 as Horspath took a step towards staying up with a 133-run win over Reading.

With Horspath in dire straits at 13-3, Ali dug in before taking the Reading attack apart.

It still looked grim at 51-5, but he shared a club record stand of 105 with Will Eason (51).

Adam Price joined Ali in the run riot with 34 not out off 17 to take Horspath to 234-6.

Reading were then bowled out for 101, with Eason doing the early damage with 4-14.

Relegated Oxford are still looking for their first win after Jalpesh Vijay’s unbeaten 121 helped Harefield to an eightwicket win.

After electing to bat, Oxford were restricted to 74-5, but Ian Crosby’s 71 in stands of 80 and 49 with Mark Beer and Harvey Eltham put them back on track until they were all out for 218.

Will Rooney bowled Oliver Richards on the second ball of the match.

However, Vijay and Simon Macey (58) led Harefield home.