Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League

IT’S do or die for Thame Town and Horspath in their Division 2 West relegation decider at Church Meadow tomorrow.

They go into the final game of the campaign knowing that one of them will be relegated – and that depending on how results pan out they could both go down.

Reading’s home game with Gerrards Cross is another key match in the battle for survival, and Aston Rowant, who visit Slough, are also not yet safe.

While Horspath are in their first season in the Home Counties and have been in the bottom two for the last six weeks, Thame have played in the league since 2003 and fell into the drop zone only last week.

Thame vice-captain Michael Higgs, who will be in a full-strength side with Will Rooney returning, said: “I think we will probably be favourites with it being at Thame, but we are not in good form.

“If we win there is a high chance that we will stay up. It is like a cup final on Saturday – whoever wins is going to stay up.”

Horspath will be without two key players in brothers Robbie and Will Eason, who are at a family wedding, with Joey Todd and Dean Creed coming into the side.

Skipper Adam Krol, a former Thame captain who will be making his first playing return to Church Meadow, said: “Obviously we will miss them. Everyone who knows our side knows those two guys are important to it.

“But Joey got 50 a couple of weeks ago and Dean has played at that level as well, and the guys who are coming in will do well.”

Horspath are more reliant on other results to survive, but Krol added: “We know if we go to Thame and win we will give ourselves a great chance. I don’t think there is much pressure on us.”

Aston Rowant have Oxfordshire left-arm spinner Nat Watkins back for their trip to Slough. He replaces Dan Matthews, who is on holiday.

By contrast, all the issues are settled in Division 1.

Oxford, with skipper Jason Harrison eyeing a top-three finish, have Nick Ferraby and Chris Sandbach back for their finale against Tring Park at Roman Way. Ian Crosby is unavailable.

Ashley Blanchard is back in Banbury’s 12-man squad for the home game against relegated Falkland.

HOW THEY LINE UP

Banbury (v Falkland, home): from Sabin, Tew, Haupt, West, Ali, Shaw, Ryan, Hawtin (capt), Wright, Blanchard, Murrey, Phillips.

Oxford (v Tring Park, away): Sandbach, Harri-son (capt), Laudat, Ferraby, Perkin, King, Van Dyk, Mendis, I Evans, Geeson-Brown, Arif.

Aston Rowant (v Slough, away): Morrick (capt), Watkins, Morgan, Watling, Cooper, Tolson, Cook, Penhale, Chapman, Needham, Leaney.

Thame Tn (v Horspath, home): Higgs, Neil-son, P Patel, Beardall, Parmar, Bhatti, Lach-lan (capt), S Patel, Barnett, Desai, Rooney.

Horspath (v Thame Town, away): Todd, Phillips, O’Connor, Rana, Skelton, Krol (capt), Wynd, Biggs, Mohammed, Creed, Jeacock.