Shipton denied third Lord's title

By BBC Blast reporter Simon Parker

Shipton reached 227 for 5 from their 40 overs.

West Oxfordshire cricket club Shipton under Wychwood lost the Village Knockout Cup final at Lord's on Sunday, losing by seven wickets to Sessay.

Shipton posted 227-5 in their 40 overs, but the North Yorkshire side passed their total with three overs to spare.

"After a good day with the bat, it seems we've had a collectively bad day with the ball" Shipton captain Paul Hemming told BBC Oxford.

"It's just been one of those days, but I'm very optimistic for the future."

Defeat denies Shipton a hat-trick of Lord's titles, having won the competition in 2002 and 2003.

The Shipton innings started perfectly as openers Andy Hemming and Charlie Brain shared a first-wicket partnership of 81, before Brain departed for 33 when he deflected the ball onto his own stumps.

Hemming went on to a coveted Lord's half-century as the Oxfordshire side reached the 100 mark at the halfway stage of their innings.

He eventually departed, caught in the deep, for 59 but not before passing 700 runs in the competition this year.

Shipton were not knocked out of their stride, as big hitters Jason Hunt and Steve Bates provided entertaining cameos.

In his first over, Hunt hit three sixes and a four as the Shipton total passed 200.

Three further wickets fell as their innings came to a close, Hunt departing for 38 and Bates remaining undefeated on 46.

Sessay's reply began in a similar style to Shipton's innings, as openers Mark Wilkie and Mathew Till put on an imposing 127 for the first wicket, leaving the Yorkshire side requiring 101 from 20 overs when Till departed for 56.

By the time Wilkie followed for 78, attempting to sweep off the bowling of captain Paul Hemming, Sessay had taken the game away from Shipton.

The Oxfordshire side managed two further wickets but could not stem the flow of runs.

Victory gave Sessay their first ever Village Cup title.