Shipton-under-Wych- wood stayed on course for a second successive trip to Lord's with a hard-earned victory at Warborough & Shillingford in the Oxfordshire final of the National Village Championship on Sunday.

However, the reigning national champions were given a few scares on the way before securing a 24-run victory and a place in the last 32.

Once the Cherwell League champions had recovered from 34-3 to 161 on a slow pitch, they rarely seemed in danger and can now look forward to a home tie against the Gloucestershire champions on July 6.

Shipton's early problems were caused by the Tilleys after Warborough had opted to field first.

Richard Tilley bowled danger man Jason Constable, while his brother Edward dismissed Steve Bates and Shaun Miller, the latter thanks to a brilliant low return catch with his 'wrong' hand.

With the boundaries set at 75 yards, fours were at a premium. There were only seven in the Shipton innings, three of them in one over hit by Stewart Gillett, before he played a rash shot in the next.

Their recovery centred around skipper Paul Hemming, who worked the ball around effectively to keep the score ticking over, despite not hitting a boundary in his 45.

With accurate former Henley left-arm spinner Richard Bell taking 2-19 in his nine overs, Warborough kept their celebrated opponents in check.

A third Tilley brother, James, held a sharp return catch to dismiss Shane Duff, but a huge legside six by former Oxfordshire captain Phil Garner took the visitors over the 160 mark. Edward Tilley returned 3-19 in an outstanding spell.

Warborough slipped to 47-4 in reply, with three catches by wicket-keeper Christian Brain and a superb yorker from the deadly Paul Snell dismissing Ed Williams.

Andy Hobbs and Rohan Iswariah effected a recovery, but with Miller strangling the scoring at one end, the batsmen were unable to keep the scoring ticking over with singles.

A target of 75 from the last ten overs in the gathering gloom was too much for them as Chris Panter used his savvy to pick up four wickets.

Warborough did themselves immense credit, but they could not halt the Shipton bandwagon as it rolls on towards Lord's.