Players competing in these early rounds of the npower Village Cup tend to fall into two groups. The first is for the self-mockers. “We’re glad to have got an XI together, I wonder if we’ll go past 50 today,” that sort of thing. Mention a Lord’s final and they choke on another mouthful of cake.

The second is for those who already have September 14, the date of the final, penned in their diaries. They enjoy the games as much as their self-mocking opponents. But take them aside, talk about the Village Cup, and a steely expression comes over their faces. They want to win. Not today’s game, not next week’s, but the whole damn tournament.

To this group belongs Steve Green, captain of Easton and Martyr Worthy, a few miles from Winchester. “We expect to win the Hampshire section,” he says. “We believe we can beat anybody.” Steve has the Village Cup in his blood – he grew up watching his father play in the competition. But there is more to it than that.

Three years ago Easton were a win away from Lord’s. Timsbury were their semi-final opponents at the pretty David Roth ground, Easton’s home. Around 500 supporters turned up, so many that the boundary ropes were pulled in to create space.

“I told them to go out there and hit the ball,” Steve says, recalling how Easton were chasing 166 for victory. “But they got nervous, perhaps thinking of Lord’s, and dug themselves into a hole.” After a reasonable start Easton collapsed. Steve was run out. These are the images flashing through his mind as he recalls the day. There was more frustration last year when chasing 171 against Valley End, the eventual champions. Again Easton began well, again they collapsed, again Steve was run out. There is reason for that steely expression then.

Last month Easton went down to the south coast where they made light work of Curdridge in Round 2. It was Steve himself who took the attack to Curdridge, belting the ball with a ferocity that had the fielders fishing in the hedges. He eventually fell to a catch at long-on two runs short of his hundred. “I lost count,” he says. “I thought I might have needed a six.” Steve was bubbling with frustration as he trudged off, but Easton’s 204 for 8 was too much for their opponents.

The Curdridge players were not disheartened. After all, this was just a bit of fun. Had they ever made it close to a Lord’s final? The very suggestion made them chuckle.

Benj Moorehead is editorial assistant of The Wisden Cricketer