CHALGROVE sprang a major surprise by beating Shipton-under-Wychwood in the Oxfordshire final of the National Village Knockout yesterday.

Skipper Derek Thomas was the hero, smashing 18 off the first five balls of the final over to see his side to a four-wicket victory against last year's beaten Lord's finalists.

It was a game of wildly fluctuating fortune, and the Shipton players looked stunned and drained afterwards.

After a modest showing with the bat and a poor start with the ball, they had worked hard to get themselves back into the driving seat.

However, Thomas destro-yed their dreams of another trip to cricket's HQ with some savage hitting off poor Chris Panter, who was hammered for 4, 4, 4, 2, 4 in the decisive final over.

It was a richly deserved success for Chalgrove, who were playing in the competition for the first time.

Replying to Shipton's 161-8 from their 40 overs, the Adkin Cherwell League Division 3 outfit were well placed at 80-0 at the midpoint of their innings.

Jon Talbot, in particular, was in cracking form, hitting the ball sweetly on the up through the offside, and one memorable hook shot off paceman Paul Snell sailed out of the ground. The home side were crusing until left-arm spinner Shaun Miller was introduced into the attack.

He bowled Talbot in his first over, and in his next had Steve Strong stumped.

When Dave Edwards whipped Panter to Paul Jennings at square leg, the game was in the balance.

For what looked like being a decisive spell of six overs, Shipton keep dangerman Thomas away from the strike.

With 30 runs needed from three overs and 16 off the last, the Cherwell Division 1 side were in the driving seat.

With everyone back on the boundary, there seemed to be no way that Chalgrove could win it. But miracle man Thomas somehow found the gaps in the field.

Earlier Shipton, who had won the toss and batted, appeared to be heading for a big total. Openers Stewart Gillett and Mel Riley laid a solid platform by putting on 80 for the first wicket.

But the Shipton middle order, missing John Hartley, Jason Constable and Sam Mendes from the side that got to Lord's last year, never really cashed in.

Chalgrove are now away to Cresselli, from Pembroke-shire - winners of the Dyfed final - on Sunday, July 5.

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