Davidstow National Village Cup: Ouseburn devastated at end of Lord’s dream

Ouseburn came within a whisker of reaching the national competition’s quarter-finals but Morrison failed to hit the required boundary on the final delivery against Scottish side Falkland.

The visitors from Fife had totalled 307-6 in the opening innings but on his home patch, Ouseburn’s Tom Parker led the victory charge with 155, ably supported by David Cummings’ 80.

Ouseburn needed ten runs from the last over and four from the final ball, but Morrison could only clip it to the boundary for two.

Had the skipper found the fence on the final delivery, Ouseburn would have been just two wins away from a September date at the ‘Home of Cricket’ Lord’s.

“On Sunday, I didn’t feel too bad. But on Monday morning I did have a sickening feeling. It had sunk in just how close we had come,” Morrison said.

“We are all disappointed that we went out but we didn’t disgrace ourselves.

“We gave 110 per cent so I couldn’t complain. We fought for the badge and gave everything but at the end of the day, they deserved to go through so we wish them luck in the next round.”

Morrison said his side’s below par performance in the field was the reason behind the defeat. However, the response with the bat made him proud of the club’s showing.

Key to that response was Parker’s sensational knock, an innings Morrison described as one of the best he had ever seen.

The captain added: “He set himself early doors and got himself in. Then from 20 overs onwards nearly every ball was going for six.

“Just in the end, I think tiredness got to him.”

More than 150 people turned out to watch the gripping contest, with the Scottish visitors bringing a coach-load of spectators south of the border.

Morrison hailed the competition and said the cup run had done wonders in raising the profile of his outfit – also thanking all at the club for their hard work in putting the fixture together.

Ouseburn had beaten Sessay in the regional final last month, and also beat Harome, Forge Valley and Cloughton along the way.

“It’s been a great experience and it’s done the club a world of good,” he added.

“It’s something I would advise most clubs to do. It’s takes your mind off other things and we have all enjoyed it.

“As a group of players we have to say a big thank-you to all the wives and girlfriends who have allowed us to play two games almost every weekend and everyone else that has given up their time to make it happen.”