OXFORD suffered another blow in their rain-affected Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 derby draw at Banbury on Saturday, when striker bowler Stuart Hole retired with a back injury.

The visitors, already bottom of the Premier Division table after a distastrous start to the season, at least avoided another defeat.

But after struggling to 160 all out in 61-4 overs, Oxford lost Hole, who pulled up injured, in just the fifth over.

Banbury’s reply was interrupted by the weather, and when rain finally drove the players from the field, the hosts were 105-5 in the 33rd over.

Having been bowled out for 58 and 40 in their previous two innings, Oxford seemed to be heading the same way when they lost openers Dan King and Chris Sandbach for just one run after choosing to bat first.

But Stewart Laudat and Jamie Perkin steadied the ship and the tail wagged thanks to Francois Vainker and Shamilal Mendis.

Seamer Ashley Blanchard was the pick of the Banbury seamers with 5-41.

Stafan van Dyk dimissed Banbury’s openers cheaply, while two wickets for Mendis left them struggling at 76-5.

Following a break for rain, Nathan Hawkes smashed 20 in two overs, but the weather had the final say.