SKIPPER Charles Janczur admitted that big-match nerves got to his batsmen in front of a 2,000-plus crowd and led to a disappointing 72-run defeat for Liphook & Ripsley by Folkton & Flixton in the National Village Cup final at Lord’s.

Liphook batted in a rather reckless fashion and were dismissed for 126 after the North Yorkshire winners had recovered from 59-4 to post a competitive 198-8 at the home of cricket.

Ironically, the day could hardly have begun better for the East Hampshire side, who won the toss and put Flixton into bat in favourable early-morning bowling conditions.

It was a departure from Liphook’s well-rehearsed plan to bat first, but as the final progressed they found the tables turned.

“It was always going to be bat first, but when we got to the nets the ball was hooping and seaming around everywhere, there was cloud over the top and there was a tinge of green on the strip itself, so there was a quick change of mind,” said Janczur.

“We knew Flixton wanted to bowl first as they had chased successfully seven times out of the eight rounds they had negotiated.”

Lord’s finals in September would not be the same without the ball ‘doing a bit’ early on, and Folkton & Flixton found themselves in early trouble at 19-2 and 59-4.

The first two wickets fell to Janczur (2-19), and the sight of them will live long in his memory - first Stu Stocks’ middle stump and then the leg stump of opening partner Richard Malthouse uprooted.

George Neave (3-39), feisty as ever, worked up a fair pace bowling from the pavilion end, making things uncomfortable for the batsmen and accounting for the Norman brothers, Tom (19) and captain Will (2), the fourth wicket a stunning catch at gully by Suman Ganguly.

Flixton rebuilt with a fine stand of 85 between Matthew Nesfield (60) and teenage prospect Will Hutchinson (48), both strong off their legs.

And Harry Walmsley gave the innings a rousing finish with 35 off only 17 balls, including a magnificent straight six into the sightscreen in front of the pavilion.

The eloquent Janczur reflected: “We started really well and kept the run-rate down.

“When we had them 59-4, I didn’t want them to get above 180, but their fifth-wicket boys got stuck down, which is something we didn’t do. They took their time, waited for the bad ball and capitalised.

“We were content at half-time. We expected to chase that.

“No offence to them but we probably faced better attacks in the quarter and semi-finals, but Flixton held their nerve and the pressure on the day got to our batsmen.”

A total of 198 in 40 overs looked about par, but Liphook & Ripsley made a rip-roaring start, at eight per over.

Lynchpin Ryan Covey, around whom Liphook build most of their innings, struck his first ball for four and then feathered a catch behind.

LIphook batted in T20 style, but three wickets for Connor Stephenson gave them a mountain to climb.

Wickets kept tumbling, and at 55-4 and then 99-7 they looked doomed. There was some reckless batting, with nerves playing a major part.

Off-spinner Tom Norman (3-18) was the stand-out bowler for Flixton, taking a wicket in each of his first two overs before ending the stubborn resistance of Grant Rouse (25).

As the Liphook innings tailed off, the top score was the 29 extras in their 126 all out.