Sessay Beat Shipton To Win 2010 npower Village Cup

Sessay Beat Shipton To Win 2010 npower Village Cup

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Sessay 228-3 (Mark Wilkie 78, Matthew Till 56) beat
Shipton 227-5 (Andy Hemming 59) by seven wickets
2010 npower Village Cup final

Yorkshire side Sessay won the toss and inserted a Shipton team boasting seven of the side that won the competition in 2003. A combination of a green-tinged wicket and some tight, stifling bowling forced Shipton into a cautious start. Scoring at just under three an over in the first 10 overs, openers Andy Hemming and Charlie Brain began the much-needed acceleration soon after. By the time Hemming departed for 59, the top order had laid a solid foundation.

Shipton number three Steve Bates assumed the limpet role with first Tim Senior, and then most eye-catchingly Jason Hunt, providing the impetus. Big-hitting Hunt pulled his first five balls for 22 in compiling 38 off just 13 balls, pushing his team towards a very competitive eventual total of 227-5.

In reply Sessay set off at a run-a-ball, making the most of the favourable batting conditions. Chris Panter tied up the Pavillion End, but openers Mark Wilkie and Matthew Till were finding joy – and frequent boundaries – at the Nursery End. Shipton captain Paul Hemming rotated his bowlers, searching for a winning formula, but couldn’t prevent the left-hand/right-hand combination bringing up their 50s.

Till fell for 56, but the opening partnership of 127 had placed Sessay in a dominant position. Man of the match Wilkie was caught sweeping for 78 and departed to hearty applause. Nick Thorne continued the good work of the openers, ushering Sessay past 200 and towards their first npower Village Cup win with minimum fuss.

Thorne fell for 42 off 38 with his side 19 short of their target bringing John Flintoff to the crease. In 1976 injury caused Flintoff to miss the final so it was fitting that 34 years later he should be there at the end, watching as his partner Nick Harrison stroked the winning four to send the Yorkshire contingent wild.