Banbury shattered Oxford’s hopes of a Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup hat-trick by storming to an emphatic nine-wicket victory at White Post Road last night.

The hosts dominated a one-sided final from the moment skipper Ian Hawtin won the toss, and put Oxford in to bat, restricting them to just 96-7.

A semblance of farce had surrounded the showpiece Twenty20 final with the choice of venue being decided by the Oxfordshire Cricket Board on the toss of a coin over a telephone line.

But having called correctly, Banbury were clearly intent on making best use of a slow home pitch.

Australian left-arm paceman Todd Guthridge struck an early blow when he trapped Oxford’s county opener, Chris Sandbach, lbw.

Captain Jason Harrison then hooked Guthridge for four before snicking the next delivery behind to leave Oxford 18-2.

Left-arm spinner Luke Ryan and off-spinner Jimmy Phillips both exacted sharp turn to hold Oxford in check, despite the efforts of South African left-hander Stefan van Dyk, who hit 32 off 34 balls.

His fluent knock included a six off Phillips over square leg, but when Ashley Blanchard found a way through his defence to make it 47-3, Oxford’s innings ground to a halt.

Ian Crosby hit Phillips straight down Ryan’s throat at long off, and Stewart Laudat could never find his usual fluency.

Seven overs passed without a boundary before Jamie Perkin clubbed a delivery from Guthridge through mid-wicket and then smashed him through extra cover for another four.

Laudat’s innings came to an end when he was deceived by Blanchard’s slower ball – his ten runs taking 31 balls.

Pop music blared out from the pavilion’s function room as the innings came to an end, but this was nothing to do with Twenty20 cricket, instead a retirement party.

And Oxford closed with a whimper at 96-7, with Perkin bowled by Guthridge for 23 off as many balls and Blanchard removing John Barrett to finish with 3-20.

If the holders were to stand any chance, they needed to get off to a good start with the ball, but Stuart Hole’s first over included three wides.

Craig Haupt was quick to use the reverse sweep against off-spinner Ian Evans, surviving a big appeal for caught behind with the shot.

By now the plug had been pulled on the music, and Lloyd Sabin was calling the tune, showing a maturity beyond his 16 years.

Haupt was particularly severe on Evans’s third over, hitting him over square leg for six and then reverse sweeping and slamming him through mid-wicket for further boundaries.

When Sabin was caught behind off Shamilal Mendis for 20 with the score on 58, Banbury were already on their way.

Richard West kept up the momentum and finished the job by smashing the winning boundary with 2.5 overs to spare.

Scores: Oxford 96-7 (20 ovs, S van Dyk 32, A Blanchard 3-20, T Guthridge 3-29), Banbury 97-1 (17.1 ovs, C Haupt 46no).