OXFORD’S Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 title hopes suffered a big blow with a crushing 145-run defeat away to leaders High Wycombe on Saturday.

The eagerly awaited top-of-the-table clash turned out to be a one-sided affair as Oxford slumped to 102 all in reply to the home side’s total 247-8.

The day started well for Oxford captain Jason Harrison, who won the toss and asked his old club to bat first.

He must have been pleased as Wycombe slipped to 114-5, with Brad Sutherland taking three wickets, including the key one of former Surrey and Leicestershire batsman Jamie Benning for one.

Stuart Hole got rid of opener Nitin Sehgal for 64, made off 95 balls.

The innings turned on a partnership of 100 for the sixth wicket between Keith Newell and Kyle Buckthorp, both of whom made 52.

This enabled Wycombe to set a stiff target.

The most succesful bowlers for Oxford were Sutherland (3-53 from 16 overs) and Ian Evans (3-52 from 11).

In reply, Oxford lost Harrison in the second over, caught behind of the bowling of Sohail Hussain.

Stewart Laudat and John Barrett added 44 for the second wicket before the former played on to Hussain.

Oxford then collapsed, losing eight wickets for just 42 runs to the swing bowling of bowling of Benning and Rory Wilson.

They were all out for 102 in the 32nd over, Wilson taking 5- 25 and Benning 3-16.

This result means that Wycombe increased their lead to 44 points over Oxford, who are still in second place.