CHARLES Janczur said it was his proudest moment on a cricket pitch when Liphook & Ripsley completed an emphatic victory over Mayfield on Sunday.

The Liphook captain will be even prouder if he lifts the National Village Cup at Lord’s after the final against Yorkshire club Folkton & Flixton on September 16.

The semi-final was expected to be close, with Mayfield top of the Sussex League Division Two, but Liphook outclassed their opponents, cheered on by the many supporters who had made the journey to the scenic ground near Tunbridge Wells.

“It was a true team performance,” said Janczur. “We showed so much heart, courage and composure to deliver an excellent all-round performance. It was a big toss to win as we wanted to set a target of 200-plus and really put the pressure on them in the field with so much on the line.

“The home fans believed we were 40 to 60 short on a lovely batting wicket, but I knew if we started well with a couple of early wickets, they would find it very difficult. All the bowlers were excellent and showed great discipline to close out the game.

“It’s a dream come true for all the players and everyone involved with the club. We have huge amounts of interest and hope to take a huge army of fans to Lord’s when the big day comes around.”

Liphook follow in the footsteps of Rowledge who reached the Lord’s final back in 1985, only to lose to Scottish side Freuchie on fewer wickets lost after the scores ended level.

There were many more teams in the competition 33 years ago and it was a real achievement just to reach a regional final. But that’s taking nothing away from Liphook who, four times in a row, have beaten four teams who were top of their respective leagues.

Choosing to bat first, Liphook found themselves up against a classy opening attack in Joynal Ahmed and captain Robert Sharma and the signs were not good when Rob Nicklin and Harry Munt were back in the pavilion with only 23 runs on the board.

At that critical stage, Ryan Covey got his head down, setting himself to be the linchpin of the innings. Suman Ganguly counter-attacked with a fast 25, including a massive six, only to play on to James Chaplin. Liphook 56-3.

Covey was to share two more important partnerships. The stand of 70 with George Neave changed the course of the game. Neave’s share was 51 off 48 balls. Technically correct, he reined in his aggressive instincts and played some strokes that a seasoned cricket writer described as ‘magnificent’. Restrained or not, Neave still managed to hit one ball out of the ground.

He was then lbw to leg-spinner James Allen and with Ric Williams also trapped in front, Liphook were suddenly 127-5. Covey and Jonny Pryce added 53 precious runs before Covey was unluckily run out in a mix-up for 68 off 92 balls.

With five overs left, the returning Ahmed took a flurry of wickets, but Pryce gave Sharma some ‘tap’ and was last out for 32 (37 balls), Liphook reaching 228 in the 40th and final over.

The well-watered pitch was well suited to Liphook’s seam attack. Harrison Tagg hit two lovely fours, but was caught by Neave at short extra-cover off Ganguly who then bowled Chaplin; 23-2.

Janczur and Ganguly gave the batsmen hardly anything in these opening overs and although Harry Lloyd and Sharma added 33, Mayfield fell well behind the asking rate.

First-change Covey broke the stand and then dangerman Sharma, just after being dropped by Pryce at deep square, hit the ball straight back at Janczur who used his height to take a fine catch.

Mayfield stumbled from 56-2 to 67-6 and they were never going to come back from that. Toby Wallace – top scorer with 27 – and Callum Saker put on 41, but Sean Burton broke the stand and cleaned up the lower order with 4-32 in 7.5 overs.

Dave Elliott bowled the only two overs of spin to take a wicket and Mayfield were bundled out for 125 in the 32nd over.

• The Lord’s final will start at 11am (gates open 10am) and tickets will be available on the gates.

• Liphook & Ripsley have a long and proud history. They have competed at the top level of the Southern Premier League and were serial winners of the Flora Doris Cup when it was the most prestigious knockout competition in the area.

But Sunday, September 16 will be the biggest day in the club’s history and they are looking to take many supporters to enjoy it.

• Folkton & Flixton beat Fillongley (Warwicks) by seven wickets in the other semi-final. The home team posted 206-8, but Folkton needed only 34 overs to chase down the runs, with opener Richard Malthouse making 80.