Exmouth's hopes of reaching the televised final of the NatWest ECB T20 came undone when they lost by 13-runs to Ashtead on Sunday.
Ashtead, who play in Division One of the Surrey Championship, made 128 for eight in their 20 overs.
Exmouth looked on course while Seb Benton was at the crease and reached 80 for three with eight overs to go.
When Benton was stumped for 40 the game started to drift away from Exmouth. They reached the final over needing 14 to win and last man Lawrence Greenway was dismissed off the first ball having a swing.
So it is Ashtead who will appear in front of the Sky Sports cameras in the final at Northamptonshire's ground in two weeks time.
"We choked, simple as that," said Exmouth club captain Richard Baggs. "Everyone was distraught afterwards as we felt we were the better team and should have won.
"We must have played 75 per cent of the cricket, but Ashtead kept going and bowled straight."
Ashtead went off at a fair pace and put on 38 from seven overs, but once Gary Chappell (2-25) claimed a couple of wickets the runs only came from one end.
Trevor Anning's two for 18 from his four overs helped keep the lid on Ashtead, who slowed right down at the end, only adding 12 in the last two overs with plenty of wickets in hand.
Exmouth got the worst possible start when opener Sandy Allen departed lbw second ball, but quickly recovered with Baggs (22), Bob Dawson (13) and Benton leading the way.
When Baggs was third out on 61 the target was 68 to win with nearly 10 overs to get them.
Benton's demise at 80 was the beginning of the end for Exmouth. No one made a double-figure score until Jamie Tapper (10) went in at No. 10 and by then it was too late.
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