HIGH Wycombe moved to within 12 points of second place Banbury with an impressive win over last year's champions at London Road on Saturday.

Wycombe, who were pipped to the championship by Banbury last season, got some revenge by taking the full 25 points from Saturday's encounter between the two sides.

Having won the toss, Banbury chose to make first use of a good pitch in the Home Counties clash.

They started well, with 50 coming from the first 11 overs. However, both Jarrad Travaglia and Adam Cole bowled extremely well to restrict the visitors to just 11 runs from the next eight overs, before the first wicket fell.

Tim Scriven was then brought into the attack, and as usual supplied a sustained spell of accurate spin. As Banbury failed to come to terms with the bowling, wickets began to fall and their slow run rate continued with only 28 coming from the next 12 overs, but with an additional five wickets lost to leave them at 89 for five.

Cole was introduced back into the attack straight after lunch, and had immediate success taking two wickets in an over.

Banbury were now up against the ropes, as Wycombe exerted even more pressure, and the batting line-up cracked with nine overs still left of the allotted 66 and only 143 on the board.

Superb bowling figures were returned from Scriven (four for 36), Travaglia (three for 40), and Adam Cole (two for 33).

Wycombe, missing their two MCC ground staff players who were on duty at Lords, felt confident of being able to score the runs and started positively, with Jason Harrison and Kosh Guha adding 30 for the first wicket from nine overs. Jamie Benning played a very aggressive innings, scoring 38 at a-run a-ball, before he was out with the score on 108.

Meanwhile, Jason Harrison continued to delight the crowd with an innings of superb skill, as he played shots all round the wicket.

Morgan (19 no) joined Harrison to see Wycombe home for the loss of only three wickets and 30 overs to spare.

Harrison finished with an unbeaten 75, and led the side to a comfortable victory.

Elsewhere, Beaconsfield's bowlers again had little success in Oxfordshire as their team struggled to a draw against Bicester and North Oxford.

On their previous visit to their neighbouring county, Beaconsfield's attack were rendered helpless as Banbury rattled up 312 for nought.

This time Bicester made 276 for three, with Beaconsfield holding on at 189 for nine to continue their run of draws.

A second-wicket stand of 179 between Australian Rod Davison and Ben France put Bicester on course for their commanding total. Beaconsfield's spinner Mark Sullivan and Nayan Doshi bowled well to keep things tight in mid-innings.

But with wickets in hand, the home side knocked up 80 off the last eight overs.

In reply, Beaconsfield lacked the substantial innings required to chase such a big target and never threatened to get close.

They always looked like extending their run of draws, which they achieved when last man Denzil Owen safely played out the final two deliveries.