JAMIE Perkin and Steve Bates shared a third-wicket stand of 112 as Shipton-under-Wychwood beat Oxford Downs in the Oxfordshire final yesterday.

Chasing 164-9, Shipton eased home with 13.3 overs and seven wickets remaining to reach the national stages, where they will travel to Hampshire winners Hambledon in a fortnight.

Shipton asked their visitors to bat first, but managed only 11 balls before rain caused a 26-minute delay.

Downs openers Frankie Crouch and Wasim Mehmood put on a half-century stand, before No 3 Will Watts (39) provided the backbone of their innings.

Although Watts was going along nicely, no Downs player was able to stick around as the home side turned the screw, with seamer Jason Hunt rolling back the years with 3-24 off eight overs.

Their target of 164-9 looked below par, and Shipton openers Andrew Hemming and Craig Wood shared a 50-stand to get the hosts off to a solid start.

They fell in quick succession, but that brought Perkin and Bates to the crease.

The former batted superbly for his 65, and although he fell with Shipton one run short of victory, Bates (49no) won the match in style with a six.