Sessay rewrote the record books to end Shipton-under-Wychwood’s dream of a third title at Lord’s yesterday.

No side had previously chased the 228 that Shipton had set to win, but their North Yorkshire opponents cantered to a seven-wicket victory with 17 balls to spare.

Opening batsman Mark Wilkie was named man-of-the-match for his fine 78 and useful medium-pace bowling.

And his first-wicket stand of 127 with Matthew Till proved the backbone of their victory.

Although he didn’t hit the winning runs, it was appropriate that 55-year-old John Flintoff was there at the end as he missed Sessay’s only other Lord’s appearance due to injury in 1976.

Shipton simply did not bowl well enough, although seamer Chris Panter was fairly economic, and Sessay were able to score the necessary six runs an over from early on.

They did at least provide the cameo of the day as Jason Hunt hammered 38 off just 13 balls. Sessay won the toss and elected to bowl on a green looking wicket, but in otherwise good conditions.

Shipton made a solid start, reaching 21-0 off five overs, but consecutive maidens from Richard Till and Stuart Peirse stemmed the tide.

Till, in particular, regularly beat Andy Hemming’s bat as Shipton edged to 29-0 off ten overs.

Sessay captain Stephen Langstaff conceded nine runs from his first over.

But otherwise his attack were well controlled as Shipton reached 50 off 15.1 overs.

Hemming seemed to be getting frustrated, but vented his feelings with a six off Mark Wilkie.

He repeated the trick from Wilkie’s next over, although this time via a fielder’s outstretched arm.

It was 81-0 at drinks and Shipton could be fairly satisfied with their work.

Brain played on to Langstaff as he looked to drive, but his 33 had been a decent effort.

Steve Bates began in confident fashion, while Hemming brought up his 50 off 73 balls.

Hemming was finally caught behind for 59 as he went for a series of expansive shots.

Tim Senior made a quickfire 18 before behind dismissed in almost identical fashion.

That brought Hunt to the crease and he promptly smashed 22 off five Matthew Till deliveries, getting off the mark with a six.

Hunt continued his mayhem to such an extent that his first non-boundary run was his 29th.

Such was the acceleration that Shipton’s fourth 50 came off just 22 balls.

The run rate did drop after Hunt’s wicket, and Paul Hemming was bowled as he tried to force a cut shot.

But Shipton were well pleased with their 227-5, which saw Bates left on 46 not out after a classy innings.

Sessay set the tone by taking 16 off one from an errant Craig Lambert.

This prompted skipper Paul Hemming to take the bowler off after just two overs and saw the introduction of Brain.

However, some positive batting from Wilkie and Matthew Till plus some indifferent fielding saw Sessay reach 36-0 after six overs.

Then the usually steady left-arm spinner Shaun Miller came on for the tenth over and conceded nine runs.

Sessay were 63-0 after ten overs – 34 ahead of their rivals at the same stage.

There was no slowing the openers, who reached 85-0 off 14 overs.

Paul Hemming brought himself on as Shipton’s sixth bowler for the 16th over, which saw Wilkie reach his 50 off 57 balls.

Till soon joined him on that landmark, scoring his half century at exactly a run a ball.

He was caught, after a juggle, by Senior in the next over, but the foundation had well and truly be laid.

Hunt could not match his batting heroics with the ball and was soon replaced by 17-year-old Tom King.

Just to underline their dominance, Sessay reached 150 off exactly 150 balls.

Wilkie top-edged a sweep to Brain for 78 when he must surely have been eyeing up a century.

Nick Thorne was stumped off Hunt for 42, but that only delayed the inevitable.