NATHAN Round admits his Old Hill side are “gutted” after exiting the National T20 competition in heart-breaking fashion.

The skipper and the rest of his team raced onto the field in celebration after Ed Denham clattered a six from the final ball to tie the score in a dramatic Area Final against Hyde on Sunday - mistakenly believing they had done enough to win.

But amid chaotic scenes it was quickly revealed the Manchester side had actually triumphed as the result was decided on run rate in the first five overs.

Round explained: “It was chaos really.

“We were a bit daft in we thought we’d lost one fewer wickets than them and like a bunch of idiots we all raced onto the field and were mobbing Ed.

“But the umpires quickly came over and said they needed to check the rules.

“Within seconds we went from joy to despair, we were absolutely gutted.

“There was a big crowd there and we have taken up a couple of coach-loads from the club, everyone was in delirium until we realised what happened.”

Round’s men had earlier battled past hosts Longton in the day’s semi-final, with Hyde beating Mochdre.

Old Hill won the toss but put their opponents in to bat and they made an electric - and as it later transpired decisive - start with 50 runs from the first four overs.

Hyde eventually posted 183-7 and Old Hill looked well on course before Round was dismissed after making 52 from 38 balls. Middle order hitting from Carl Whyte (42 from 20) and Alex Hills (22 from 14) put them right back in it, with Denham cracking the final ball over the boundary to level things up.

Victory would have left Old Hill just one game away from the National Finals Day and an appearance on Sky Sports.

Round admitted he had found it difficult to sleep on Sunday night.

He added: “I kept on going over every moment, working out where things went wrong or where we missed out.

“It’s one of the best games of cricket I have ever played in, the momentum was constantly swinging.

“In all honesty even a few days on I don’t think some of the guys are really over it.

“But you could spend the rest of your life agonising over it and never work it out.”

The T20 defeat capped a disappointing weekend for Old Hill after their Birmingham League Division One title hopes suffered a blow with an eight wicket defeat at Dorridge.

This Saturday they host Shifnal while Round’s side will have a crack at local T20 glory next week, when they are one of four sides contesting the Black Country Floodlit League at Himley.