ROWLEDGE FALL IN VILLAGE CUP SEMI-FINAL

A quarter of a century after their last appearance at Lord’s, Rowledge missed out on a place in the National Village Cup Final, falling again to Shipton-Under-Wychwood in the semi-final, a repeat of the 2002 semi-final.  The Oxfordshire-based Cherwell League side won by 22 runs and will play North Yorkshire outfit Sessay at Lord's on Sunday September 12.
Winning the toss, Shipton chose to bat on a strip that had been used the previous day, a decision that became clearer as the game progressed and batting became more difficult on a wearing pitch.  Shipton made a steady start against tight bowling from Richard Forbes and Peter Dickinson, who made the early breakthrough by removing both openers for 38 by the thirteenth over.  Bates (38) began to increase the scoring rate, however partnerships proved difficult to form against further tight bowling from Tim Wheatley and Rob Smith.  The Shipton Captain, Hemming scored an invaluable 25 before being stumped off Lloyd for 25.  The last three overs conceded 31 runs to take Shipton to 155-8, a score Rowledge would have been happy to take at the outset.  The Rowledge bowling had been excellent with Smith leading the way with 3-43, supported by some of the season's best fielding.
Rowledge lost Darren Mitchell (5) in the 5th over with the score at 25 and further disaster followed in the next over when ChrisYates was trapped  lbw to the steady Panter (1-23 in 9 overs).  Gary Clapham and David Lloyd (14) took the score on to 52 when Lloyd also fell leg before. Ricky Yates (22) then joined Clapham (45) adding 37 before the former Farnham opener was bowled by Miller, for the game's top score.  Batting was now proving more difficult on a wearing pitch and the ball not coming through.  From 89-4, Rowledge subsided to 133 all out with Miller (3-34) and  Hemming (3-21) taking the bowling honours.