Bourton Vale pip Shipton in last-ball drama in pulsating game of cricket (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Bourton Vale pip Shipton in last-ball drama in pulsating game of cricket

ON a glorious Saturday afternoon in the picturesque setting of the Shipton-under-Wychwood CC ground, a pulsating encounter of cricket ended on the last ball of the game.

In a thrilling conclusion, Bourton Vale needed just a single to overtake a mammoth total of 297-4 set by the home team.

And they succeeded with a scrambled leg bye to the cheers of the Bourton team and their followers, but amid obvious disappointment and sheer disbelief from their hosts.

The National Village Knockout champions of the past two years, Shipton, had been asked to bat first.

And they got off to a flying start with the impressive Steve Bates and Paul Hemming putting on 128 for the first wicket.

Bates, together with Simon Hole, continued the onslaught and, at 274-1, Shipton were staring at an unassailable total.

However, with the fall of Hole's wicket, they decided to declare, giving themselves an extra four overs to hopefully dismiss Bourton.

In reply, the Vale side were in no mood to be dismissed and, after the early loss of Luke Murray, Paul Lazenbury and Max Brown put on 101 for the second wicket.

And former Gloucestershire and Kent opener Lazenbury then put together various stands with the middle order until holing out to a full toss with his score on 93.

There then followed some real heroics between Graham Newhook and Steve Stroud as the score edged ever closer towards the target.

At 293, Newhook was run out and his younger brother Ryan joined Stroud for the last over and ultimate victory.