Banbury's decision to bat first back-fired as they ended up losing by eight wickets away to Harpenden in a one-sided Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier Division match on Saturday.

The visitors were struggling at 58-4 before a fifth-wicket stand between Richard West and Jonny Cater put them in a position from which they could launch a final assault.

However, it all went wrong for the visitors as five wickets fell for 11 runs.

And it needed a late flourish from last-man Jimmy Phillips to take them to 180.

Harpenden seamer Simon White finished with 5-66.

Then the home side’s openers Gregg Cooper and James Latham made light of the Banbury attack, adding 135 to see their side to a comfortable win with more than 14 overs to spare.

Banbury are now fourth, 72 points behind runaway leaders High Wycombe.