BANBURY could only draw with Henley in Division 1 – leaving them with a massive task to now wrestle the title away from High Wycombe.
Recent victories saw Banbury go into Saturday’s clash 32 points off top spot.
But their result – together with Wycombe’s win over Tring, sees the gap now at 44 with four weeks remaining.
Banbury recovered from the early loss of Ian Tew to post 249-7 off 66 overs.
Nathan Hawkes led the way with an impressive 85, and was well-supported by Richard West (47), Ed Phillips (36) and Lloyd Sabin (30).
With Henley in trouble at 122-7, it looked like Banbury would keep the pressure up at the top of the table.
But a 67-run eighth-wicket partnership between Bjorn Mordt (46) and No 9 Tahir Afridi, who hit 50, meant it ended honours even.
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