Persimmon Village Cup

SIMON Hole’s second century in two days fired Shipton-under-Wychwood to a 14-run victory over Horspath in the Oxfordshire semi-finals.

Captain Hole hit exactly 100 at Horspath, having made 106 not out the previous day against Buckingham in the Cherwell League, to set up a final date with Challow & Childrey.

That match, scheduled for June 12, has been switched to Shipton as Challow are hosting Oxfordshire versus Wiltshire in the Minor Counties Championship.

Hole’s 106-ball ton, which saw him survive a strong stumping appeal on 60, featured nine fours and a four sixes.

Shipton made 190 all out, then Horspath slipped from 128-4 after 29 overs to 176 all out.

Hole said: “I have been playing well so far this year.

“I don’t think I have ever hit two centuries like this before.

“I have been practising hard. Ever since I have been captain at Shipton, it is has given me a little bit more responsibility.

“It seems to get me up for batting.”

Horspath won the toss and inserted Shipton, striking immediately as Will Eason bowled Charlie Brain on the fifth ball of a wicket maiden.

Tim Senior hit two fours and a six in his 19, while 14-year-old Joe Barrett made a mature 28 not out.

Horspath also lost a wicket in their first over, Brain gaining revenge by bowling Ned Murray for two.

Andrew Wynd (36) was caught and bowled by spinner Shaun Miller, who took 1-21 off his nine overs.

Will Eason top-scored with 51 in Horspath’s reply, hitting seven fours and a six in his 46-ball knock.

Their hopes were ended when Mitchell Meredith was stumped.

Hole added: “Horspath have got a good young side and are in the Home Counties feeder league, so it was a good result.

“They beat us twice last year pretty comprehensively, but we always seems to pull out the stops in the village knockout.”

Challow & Childrey, playing their first village cup campaign for 20 years, defeated Shrivenham by 21 runs in a scoring fest at Vicarage Hill.

More than 500 runs were scored in a clash that saw home skipper Nigel Hume make 135 in a total of 261-4.

OCA Division 1 side Shrivenham inserted Challow, of Cherwell League Division 2.

Hume and Steve Burry put on 99 for the first wicket before Adam Tucker’s good flight and control brought Shrivenham back into it.

Challow were 160-2 after 30 overs, but then upped the rate, scoring 61 off the final five overs with David Slade (pictured) to the fore.

Tucker and Mark Whale got Shrivenham’s reply off to a solid start. They needed 120 runs from the last 15 overs and 87 from ten.

Shrivenham conceded three run outs, while Slade and Olly Dimbylow were brought back to stem the tide.

The visitors ended on 240 all out with five balls remaining.