Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League

OXFORD captain Jason Harrison hopes his team can reignite their season in tomorrow’s Division 1 derby at home to Banbury.

And Harrison, whose side slipped to third after last week’s defeat to Welwyn Garden City, says they must improve their batting to boost any lingering title hopes.

“Our performances have not been up to scratch in the past two weeks.,” said Harrison.

“People are hurting and we are looking forward to the challenge of Saturday.

“Mathematically we can still win the title, it is as simple as that.

“I have been involved in a team that has thrown the league away, so you never know what can happen.

“The most important thing is to get some form with the bat.

“Once that is sorted, we can look at tables and positions.

Oxford add batsmen Chris Sandbach and John Barrett to the side that lost to Welwyn.

Banbury will be without Oxon seamer Ashley Blanchard (work commitments), so Olly Wright comes in.

Skipper Ian Hawtin hopes to complete a league double over Oxford that would send them up the table.

“We have got to look and getting back to the top and challenging for a top-three position,” said Hawtin. “We know it will be a good game.”

Horspath captain Adam Krol is still backing his team to climb the table, despite slipping into the Division 2 West relegation zone.

Krol’s men host Farnham Royal, with Joey Todd replacing fellow batsman Matt O’Connor, who is preparing for an army training course.

“I am more than confident that we can get out of it,” said Krol, whose team drew withGerrards Cross last weeek.

“In saying that, I feel we need a win pretty soon to give the guys confidence.”

Krol added: “Matt has been fantastic since he has come in, so it is a shame we are missing him, but Joey is probably overdue his chance.”

Vice-captain Michael Higgs returns in place of Ed Goggs as Thame Town visit Slough.

Having hammered Reading, Thame are growing in belief.

Higgs said: “The lads got a great result last week and it gives us confidence going into the remainder of the season.

“Slough are a tough team to beat, so we need another performance like last week.”

Josh Smith and Richard Cook replace Andrew Tolson and Adam Cossins as Aston Rowant host Dinton.

SATURDAY SQUADS

Oxford (v Banbury, home): from King, Harrison (capt), Laudat, Ferraby, Perkin, Crosby, Barrett, Sandbach, Hole, Mendis, I Evans, Sutherland, Usman Arif.

Banbury (v Oxford, away): Sabin, Cheshire, Haupt, West, Tew, Shahbaz Ali, Shaw, Hawtin (capt), Wright, E Smith, J Phillips.

Aston Rowant (v Dinton, home): Watkins, Watling, Cook, Morgan, Morrick (capt), Cooper, Smith, Penhale, Leaney, Matthews, Needham.

Horspath (v Farnham Royal, home): R Eason, Phillips, Hutchison, Wynd, Todd, Skelton, Krol (capt), Jehan Mohammed, W Eason, Mohson Rana, Jeacock.

Thame Town (v Slough, away): Neilson, Desai, Beardall, P Patel, Bhatti, Lachlan (capt), Parmar, Mi Higgs, Rooney, S Patel, Sutcliffe.

  • OXFORD go for glory in the Home Counties Premier League Twenty20 finals on Sunday at Roman Way.

Jason Harrison’s side host Henley in their semi-final at 11am, with Harpenden facing Welwyn Garden City.

The final is due to start at 3pm, with the winner progressing to the next regional stage of the Red Insure Twenty20 Cup.