BANBURY skipper Luke Ryan is hoping to further close the gap at the top of Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 when his side host Tring Park tomorrow.

Leaders Henley have lost their last two matches, with third-placed Banbury cutting the deficit to 15 points.

Lloyd Sabin has been named in a squad of 12 after returning from holiday.

Ryan said: “Hopefully, we can do the double over Tring Park, but we are feeling very confident, particularly with our bowling performances.

“We are bowling sides out consistently which is what we need to do if we want to catch Henley.”

Horspath name a squad of 13 for the trip to Harefield, which includes Milly Furuq and Shahbaz Ali, who have been playing in the second team for the last three weeks because of Ramadan.

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Pat Foster is injured (shoulder) so Dominic O’Connor is also up for selection.

With 18 points separating eighth-placed Horspath and second bottom Harefield, captain Will Eason has described it as the most important match of the season.

He added: “If we can get a positive result it will help create a bit of breathing space.

“They beat us last time and it was a lesson for us – hopefully we can put it right.”

Abingdon School pupil Adam Spears and John Barrett replace unavailable duo Stewart Laudat and Brad Sutherland as Oxford host High Wycombe.

Ian Crosby’s side are bottom and still searching for their first victory of the season.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Banbury (v Tring Park, home): from Paine, Darby, E Phillips, West, Briggs, Bartlett, Ryan (capt), Blanchard, Penhale, Wright, J Phillips, Sabin.

Horspath (v Harefield, away): from R Eason, Ward, Phillips, Cutter, Mould, Biggs, Price, Davies, W Eason (capt), Krol, Furuq, Ali, O’Connor.

Oxford (v High Wycombe, home): Perera, Carters, Clough, Crosby (capt), Davies, Mendis, Morgan, Simon, Eltham, Barrett, Spears.