THE dream of playing at Lord’s is over for Wheathampstead after they were knocked out of the National Village Cup on Sunday.

After being crowned champions of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and booking a place in the national rounds, Adam Winchester’s side failed with the bat as their run chase fell well short of the target.

Having travelled to the Sussex club – just four wins away from a place at the home of cricket – Middleton won the toss and chose to bat. It proved to be a winning decision for captain Brandon Hanley.

Ben Hansford (18), Will Burrows (31), Jamie Thompson and Ed Towner (40) got the innings off to a superb start, putting on 148 for the first four wickets but it was Hanley who really drove the dagger in.

The skipper smashed six fours and five sixes on his way to 82 off just 52 balls, pushing Middleton over 230 before he was clean bowled by Nick Martin.

The hosts were not done there though as Patrick Colvin (17), Toby Macer (11) and Adam Rawstone (16) continued to pile on the runs. By the time their allotted 40 overs were up, Middleton had posted a target of 260.

Martin was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-40. He was supported by Daniel Norris and Winchester, who both took a brace of wickets.

In reply, too few of Wheathampstead’s batsmen made winning contributions as only four reached double figures.

Richard Winchester and Adam Winchester opened the batting, the latter making 23 before he was bowled by Tommy Davies. Chris Martin was gone a ball later and Sam Ledger (5) lasted 14 deliveries and they became Davies’ second and third scalps.

Richard and Mark Winchester started to rebuild the innings, pushing the score to 114 before the opener was dismissed, having made a well-crafted 52 off 74 balls, including five fours.

After Mark Winchester was caught for 29, leaving the innings at 129-5, only Pete Bush (14) made double figures as the last five batsmen posted just 11 runs.

• On Saturday, Wheathampstead (224-9) suffered a shock five-wicket loss to Welwyn Garden City 2s (226-5). The seconds also lost, defeated by Flitwick, but there were wins for the thirds and fourths, chasing down totals against Rickmansworth 5s and Datchworth 4s respectively.