Kingston Bagpuize edged into the third round of the Wadworth 6X National Vllage Championship in remarkable circumstances on Sunday.

Having disposed of 1997 national finalists Shipton in the previous round, Kingston claimed another prize scalp on Sunday by beating 1998 Oxfordshire winners Chalgrove in a thrilling encounter.

Barry Collis scored runs and took vital wicket for Kingston Bagpuize

Both sides were bowled out for 114, but as Kingston had made their runs off fewer deliveries - 34.4 overs compared to Chagrove's 39 - they went through on run rate.

Bagpuize won the toss and elected to bat, but they struggled on a difficult pitch, and only Barry Collis (29) hung about at the crease.

Their innings was halted when a swarm of bees crossed the outfield and then again for a thunderstorm.

Chalgrove had to make do without opener Malcolm Cox-Rogers, who was called away at tea, so they began their run-chase with only ten men.

They looked poised for victory with the score on 69-2 and Steve Strong (28) and Jon Talbot (34) at the wicket.

And even though they wobbled slightly, they were still odds-on favourites with the scores level and just seven wickets down.

The absence of Cox-Rogers was to prove crucial, however, as Richard Oakey and Barry Collis claimed the two remaining wickets to put Kingston through.

Kingston will now meet Warborough & Shillingford, who beat OCA League champions Broughton & North Newington by eight wickets.

Broughton were bowled out for 203, and Warborough overhauled their target with 4.1 overs in hand thanks largely to an unbeaten 66 from Andy Broadbent.

Cropredy looked to be struggling at 52-4 in response to Sandford St Martin's challenging total of 180-7.

But a stand of 108 for the fifth wicket between Geoff Barrett and Andy Radford turned it around and Cropredy got home with four wickets and one over to spare.

Moreton received a walkover from Deddington.

NATIONAL VILLAGE CHAMPIONSHIP

*Kingston Bagpuize bt Chalgrove on run rate

KINGSTON BAGPUIZE

R Keates c Bagnall b Clark...11

M Shepherd c Talbot b Clark...9

B Collis b Strong...29

A Howard c Talbot b Adby...0

M Mowat c Clark b Adby...11

D Warner c Talbot b Adby...0

S Launder c Cox-Rogers b Busby...8

R Oakley c Bowerman b Strong...15

S Harris b Busby...0

M Savage b Bowerman...2

R Giles not out...0

Extras...29

Total (all out)...114

Fall: 1-21, 2-30, 3-33, 4-68, 5-74, 6-87, 7-99, 8-108, 9-114.

Bowling: Bowerman 4.4-0-22-1, Clark 9-2-27-2, Adby 9-2-27-2, Strong 8-0-21-2, Busby 4-0-17-2.

CHALGROVE

S Strong c Shepherd b Giles...28

T Bagnall lbw b Savage...4

A Spiers c Mowat b Giles...2

J Talbot b Oakey...34

D Clark b Launder...3

N Adby b Launder...1

J Allen st Keates b Collis...1

R Busby b Collis...9

N Bailey b Oakey...6

K Bowerman not out...0

Extras...26

Total (all out)...114

Fall: 1-31, 2-35, 3-69. 4-78, 5-84, 6-92, 7-92, 8-114, 9-114.

Bowling: Launder 9-1-26-2, Collis 8-0-24-2, Giles 9-1-24-2, Savage 6-2-17-1, Oakey 6-0-17-2.

OTHER SCORES

Broughton & North Newington 203 (37.2 ovs, S Faulkner 66, A Tilley 4-31), Warborough & Shillingford 206-2 (35.5 ovs, A Broadbent 66).

Sandford St Martin 180-7 (M Robey 50, R Lynch 3-24), Cropredy 185-6 (38.4 ovs, G Barrett 80 no, A Radford 42, S Smith 3-20).

Aston Rowant 146, Kidmore End 147-5.

Buscot Park 148-9, Ascott-under-Wychwood 135.

Tetsworth 182, Chadlington 183-4 (D Harding 73).

3rd round draw (May 27): Cropredy v Moreton, Kidmore End v Buscot Park, Warborough v Kingston Bagpuize, Oxford Downs or Hanborough v Chadlington.