CUMNOR’S dreams of reaching a Lord’s final were ended by a narrow defeat in the first national stage of the Davidstow Village Cup yesterday.

The Oxfordshire champions went down by two wickets away to Gloucestershire side Marshfield, who enter the last 16.

After being dismissed for 147, Cumnor bowled tightly to put the pressure on their hosts, who scrambled home by two wickets, albeit with six overs to spare.

None bowled better than young off-spinner Max Mannering, who had been the hero of the Oxfordshire final victory over last year’s national finalists Great & Little Tew with a five-wicket haul.

This time he took 4-30 from his nine overs, but it was not quite enough.

Put in to bat on a green pitch, Cumnor soon lost skipper Matt Lake for a duck, falling to the bowling of Tom Lamb.

The seamer picked up another two wickets, including last-round hero Harry Ackland for nought as they slumped to 49-4.

Wicket-keeper Joe Dale came to the rescue with a well-composed 42 off 72 balls, without which Cumnor would have been in the mire.

Against a now predominantly spin attack, Devane Warner added a breezy 24 off 21 deliveries.

But the last four wickets fell for 15 runs as the visitors were all out in the 37th over.

Marshfield started brightly, and at 51-1, appeared to be cruising to victory.

But the introduction of Mannering gave Cumnor some hope.

The teenager took three quick wickets and Marshfield were rocking at 77-5.

After a stand of 37, Mannering, claimed his fourth victim.

Carl Thompson then dismissed top-scorer William Pascall for 60 and Alastair Christie to make it 139-8, with nine runs still needed.

A nick past the outstretched arm of second slip was Marshfield’s only alarm as they edged to victory.

“It’s a shame we’ve not been able to get beyond the first national round, but we just did not make enough runs,” said Lake.

“The toss made no difference as we would have batted anyway, because we believe in scoreboard pressure.

“In the end, it was that was pressure nearly gave us a chance, despite our small total.

“However it has been great fun getting through to the national stage.”