A superb innings by opener Steve Bates was the key to Shipton-under-Wychwood's 59-run victory over Dumbleton in the last 32 of the National Village Championship yesterday. Bates made the Gloucestershire side pay for some poor fielding - he was dropped three times - to share in match-winning partnerships of 89 with Stewart Gillett and 51 with the hard-hitting Shane Duff.

However, Shipton had to overcome several dodgy moments to get through to the next round.

Having been asked to bat, they got off to a nervous start, with skipper Paul Hemming run out with the score on 11.

It took Shipton until the 12th over to hit their first boundary when Bates smashed a glorious cover drive past the in-field off left-arm spinner Eddie Robinson.

Shipton reached three figures, but were then dealt a double blow when Gillett run out and Jason Constable was given out leg before off his first ball, despite getting a massive inside edge.

But that brought Duff to the crease, and together with Bates, Shipton took control.

Both players found the nearby pond with huge hits - Duff smashing a six over the pavilion into the water, and Bates sending the ducks paddling for cover with a fierce drive through backward point.

But it could have been so different had Bates not been dropped at slip, seen Robinson put down a sharp caught and bowled chance and had an easy chance split on the square leg boundary, before he was eventually caught for 73.

And that prompted a dramatic collapse.

Ian Lewis, Chris Panter, Phil Garner, Paul Snell, Antony Prior-Wandesforde all fell quickly, leaving Duff and last man Tim Osborne to put on a crucial 20 for the final wicket as Shipton ended on 189-9.

In reply, Snell got Shipton off to the best possible start, having Graeme Piesse caught behind by Duff with the score on seven.

And consistent bowling by the visitors meant that there was no let-up for Dumbleton, with wickets falling regularly.

Panter (4-32) and Snell (3-22) reduced the visitors to 72-7, although some big-hitting from Rob Churchman, including one massive six into a neighbouring garden, made Shipton panic for a few overs.

But Churchman was caught on the boundary by Osborne attempting one big hit too many off Garner, and Osborne then wrapped up victory, bowling last man Mike Barfoot first ball.