AFTER last week's impressive performance, Radlett's season took another twist as they were comfortably beaten in their trip to Banbury on Saturday.

Looking to avenge their home defeat earlier in the season, Scott Moffat's men travelled to the White Post Road ground in determined mood but soon found their hopes of a top three finish, in the league's inaugural season, almost certainly disappear.

Having won the toss, Moffat elected to bat but the decision backfired on him almost immediately, as the home side's tall, aggressive, new-ball bowlers set to work on a pitch offering them plenty of assistance.

Opening batsmen Evans and Jefferies made a solid enough start before Evans top edged an attempted hook for 14 and the hosts then introduced England paceman Neal Radford into the attack with immediate effect as he quickly dismissed both Moffat and the recalled Kaf Jahangir.

The run out of Jefferies was swiftly followed by Hampton getting out leg before and Radlett were left reeling in the precarious position of 63-5, and in danger of humiliation.

However, young all-rounder Matt Cousens joined Dan Chippeck as they battled their way to a 49 run partnership either side of lunch, in the face of some fine, accurate bowling and some less savoury intimidatory tactics until Cousens was caught behind, leaving the tail to support Chippeck in his goals of completing a 50 and taking his side to a challenging total.

The trio of Edwards, McEwan and Norman hung around long enough for one of those goals to be attained, as Chippeck scored his first 50 of the league season, but when he was finally out after a marathon three hour stay at the crease, his side had reached 172 all out, a score which at least gave the bowlers something to defend.

Although county paceman Darren Arnold made an immediate breakthrough, his superb spell yielded no further victims and the hosts recovered to 80-1 at tea.

From there on, the writing was on the wall for Moffat's men, despite reining the home side back to 110-4 at one stage, Banbury cruised to a comfortable six-wicket win.

After the game, Moffat said: 'We were all fired up for this one after our match earlier this season, but things just did not quite go our way which happens sometimes.'