Any slight hope Oxford retained of winning the Division 1 title disappeared with a crushing nine-wicket defeat at Harpenden on Saturday.

After winning the toss, Oxford amassed an impressive score of 264-8 from their 66 overs.

But then spectacular batting saw the home side cruise to victory with nine wickets and more than seven overs to spare.

Oxford soon lost skipper Jason Harrison, but Dan King, with 50 off 64 balls, and Stewart Laudat added 77 for the second Laudat,whose 82 came off a more sedate 156 balls, and Nick Ferraby then put on 49 for the third wicket.

From the relative prosperity of 142-2, Oxford then lost five wickets for 46 runs, three to Ben Frazer to stand at a perilous 188-7.

However, Brad Sutherland’s unbeaten 37 helped Oxford set 265 for victory.

Harpenden’s opening pair of Ricky Damiano and Gregg Cooper, made light of all the Oxford bowlers as they added 176 for the first wicket in 31 overs.

Cooper was out for 91, made off 109 balls, while Damiano saw it through as Harpenden raced to their tagert in the 47th over His 136 came off 126 balls as none of the Oxford bowlers covered themselves in glory The hosts gained revenge for their defeat by Oxford in the final of the league’s Twenty20 competition last week