THE rain has cost Banbury CC any chance of the Home Counties Premier League title after their game at Henley was abandoned.
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 Carte
r 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.
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