Paul Dean flew back from the Mediterranean to play in the National Village Cup final

Paul Dean has spoken about how he interrupted a family holiday on the Mediterranean to fulfil his dream of playing at Lord’s.

The Foxton Cricket Club all-rounder bowled three overs and batted at No.10 with a back injury as his side were beaten in the final of the Davidstow Village Cup by Woodhouse Grange at the Home of Cricket.

Dean had been relaxing in the Med until Friday when he flew on to Rome and then back to England to take part in one of the biggest days in the club’s history on Sunday.

Woodhouse set a target of 257 to win but Foxton were bowled out just 19 runs short, and 5am this morning (Monday) Dean set back off from Stansted to resume his break with his wife, sister-in-law and brother-in-law.

“It would have been nice to win it,” he said after the game. “We had a bit of luck on the way through in the rounds, but it was a good day. I’m normally a very bad loser, but I’m ok.

“I flew back from the cruise to be at the game, just to enjoy it with the lads. I was never going to miss it.

“I’m halfway through a 16-day cruise so I flew back on Friday, played Saturday [in a draw against Histon] and then I’m heading back out there [Monday morning] from Stansted.”

Initially batting with a runner due to a back injury, Dean dismissed his team-mate to carry on without support at the crease and finished with eight not out.

“I’ve had runners before when I’ve pulled things in my back, but the adrenaline just took the pain away and I just forgot I had a runner and I kept on running. In the end I just told him to go off and I’ll do the best I can.”

Asked about the run to the final, Dean added: “Cei Sanderson stands out. He scored three hundreds in a row and a 60 [against Woodhouse]. Just brilliant.

“They’re a really good bunch of lads, and they’ve got age on their side. They’ll be here again.”