nPower Village Cup: Shipton-under-Wychwood reached the final 16 in the nPower Village Cup after a nerve-jangling one-wicket win over Timsbury yesterday.

With 198 to chase, Shipton looked clear favourites, but the visitors stuck doggedly to their task.

In the end extras proved the difference, so it was fitting, if a little anti-climactic, that Shipton's winning run came from Neil Hucker's second wide of the over.

They will now play Ynystawe at home on July 17 after the Welsh side overcame Gloucestershire champions Redmarley.

Shipton captain Steve Bates said: "Over the last two or three years we've had a few close ones up here.

"We beat Dumbleton on fewer wickets two years ago. It certainly made for a good game of cricket today.

"Ian Lewis and Jason Constable bowled very well to start with, but they are a good side and they were always going to come back and score some runs.

"In the end we made it and it was a good all-round team performance."

It was hard to imagine this match would have such a tense finale when Timsbury were restricted to 50-3 from their first 20 overs.

Constable and Lewis kept things tight before Dave Pippett and Lloyd Davies brought the Avon and Somerset champions to life with an energetic 88-run fourth- wicket stand.

Pippett eventually top scored with 65 after twice being dropped by Lewis early on and Timsbury continued to attack after he was out.

Wicket-keeper Jez Hare bludgeoned a series of late boundaries to give his side something to bowl at.

Timsbury openers Nigel Day and Mark Smith matched Lewis and Constable's economy, pegging Shipton back to 28-3 off ten overs.

But as was the case in the previous round against Tiddington, John Hartley cut loose with customary flair.

He and Bates put on 92 for the fourth wicket before both holing out to Jerry Thompson in the same Hucker over.

Shipton lacked the same fluency once these two were out, but Chris Panter stayed put to complete a decent all-round performance.

Spinner Shaun Miller provided the best support with some tidy shot making before he was caught by Timsbury skipper Mark Sage.

Craig Lambert threatened to complete the task, but was bowled by Hucker with just two needed for victory.

Timsbury's field closed in around No 11 Chris Brain, knowing that with two overs still to bowl another wicket was their only chance.

As it was, Brain just needed to stand firm as Hucker bowled the two neccesary wides. VILLAGE CUP SCOREBOARD TIMSBURY

D Wilkins c Constable b Miller...6

M Smith c P Hemming b Constable...16

M Sage b Lewis...6

D Pippett c Bates b Panter...65

L Davies b Constable...35

J Thompson b Panter...17

G Passingham run out...11

J Hare not out...21

N Hucker run out...2

S Clothier not out...2

Extras...16

Total (8 wkts, 40 ovs)...197

Fall: 1-23, 2-29, 3-37, 4-125, 5-149, 6-165, 7-187, 8-194.

Bowling: Constable 9-3-26-2, Lewis 9-1-33-1, Miller 9-3-40-1, P Hemming 5-0-40-0, Panter 8-0-46-2.

SHIPTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD

S Bates c Thompson b Hucker...41

J Constable c Day b Smith...6

Si Hole c Hare b Smith...1

P Hemming c Hare b Smith...0

J Hartley c Thompson b Hucker...62

C Panter not out...25

A Hemming run out...2

I Lewis c Clothier b Davies...3

S Miller c Sage b Hucker...19

C Lambert b Hucker...6

C Brain not out...0

Extras...33

Total (9 wkts, 38 ovs)...198

Fall: 1-14, 2-20, 3-28, 4-120, 5-120, 6-133, 7-146, 8-189, 9-196.

Bowling: Day 7-2-25-0, Smith 9-2-36-3, Davies 9-0-44-1, Hucker 8-0-39-4, Clothier 2-0-22-0, Pippett 3-0-24-0.