OXFORD Downs’ run in The Cricketer National Village Cup came to a disappointing end at Liphook & Ripsley yesterday.

Downs were set 238 to win their last 16 clash in Hampshire, but fell well short – ending their dreams of a trip to Lord’s.

Skipper James Ellwood lost a crucial toss, and the home side took full advantage.

Led by Suman Ganguly – a relation of former Indian Test star Sourav Ganguly – Liphook were always on top of the Downs attack.

Ganguly finished with 87, while Grant Rouse hit 66 from 47 balls.

Chasing such a large total, Downs had to get off to a good start.

But Alex Ling was run out cheaply early on and wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.

Skipper Ellwood scored 43, but no other Downs batsman, with the exception of Harry Sutton down the order, really got going.

The game was all but lost when Sutton came in.

He struck an enterprising 35 off 21 balls, but the game was up, and when he fell, the tail subsided, and Downs were dismissed for 167.

Skipper James Ellwood said: “We were beaten by the better side, but it’s pretty disappointing.

“We hadn’t lost a game all year, but they beat us convincingly.

“We were pretty poor in the middle overs of both innings, and we were beaten fair and square.

“They had the upper hand and didn’t have a spell when they bowled poorly, like we did. They made it very difficult for us to get the ball way.

“There were one or two positive performances, and we need to build on that to push on to the Home Counties Premier League.”