Shipton-under-Wychwood captain Paul Hemming felt their total of 227-5 had been well above par against Sessay, writes Ed Mezzetti.

But the all-rounder admitted his side had not bowled well enough to capitalise on their useful work with the bat.

“If you bowl as badly as that, you get what you deserve,” said Hemming.

“It didn’t seem to come out right for anybody.

“Chris Panter bowled reasonably well early on, but we just couldn’t get a series of maidens or even ones and twos.

“I was delighted at lunchtime to be honest. I thought that score was well above par.

“It would have been enough if we had bowled to our potential.

“I was ringing the changes hoping to find the right combination, but nothing seemed to work.”

Hemming said Shipton’s previous wins in 2002 and 2003 meant losing to Sessay was made slightly easier.

But he admitted: “I’m disappointed. We came here today to win, but someone has to lose.

“I can look back on our days in the sun in 2002 and 2003, but don’t get me wrong, it has still been an enjoyable weekend.”

He added: “I thought Sessay batted really well. You still have to put the balls away when they are bowled wide.

“Their batting was terrific, especially the two openers.

“Normally I love to bat first, but it was so wet this morning that I was in two minds if I had won the toss.

“The pitch was still seaming and spinning a bit right through the day.

“But I would like to thank the players. They have been brilliant all season.

“We’ll be back next year to have another go.”

Shipton’s star man Jason Hunt, who hammered 38 off 13 balls, said: “As I was going out, Hemmo said to me ‘you have a licence to play’.

“I took that literally and just went for it.

“At half-time, we thought 227 was a good score, but we bowled poorly.

“It was probably due to nerves more than anything.”

Sessay’s victorious captain, Stephen Langstaff, hailed a landmark day for his club.

He said: “This is a dream moment. I can’t put into words how big an occasion it is.”

John Flintoff, who missed the 1976 final through injury, but hitting the winning run, said: “I wasn’t bothered who hit it (the winning run) as long as we got to 228.

“I have waited a long time and it’s absolutely fantastic.”