Just not to be!

Travelling to a beautiful ground at Panteg in Wales, Devon winning the toss went into bat. A couple of good partnerships from Olivia Churcher (39) and Becca Halliday (58) reaching 50 and a 54 partnership from Becca and Holly Elsworth (17) looked like Devon was in a favourable position. Maddie Holifield coming in at five batted well for her 25; but sadly the lower order weren’t to add a lot to the total. Devon batted their 40 overs for 202-8.

Feeling this was 30 runs short on a rather larger boundary, it proved difficult to dislodge the opening pair of Alex Griffiths (50) and Libby Thomas (73). And though these wickets were claimed, it was a little too late as the damage has been done and Wales with a couple of overs to spare won by 7 wickets.

On the return match at Whimple CC, Devon, being in a good place at the top of our group, were determined to make up for the loss against Wales earlier in the week. Devon put Wales into bat, feeling that wickets were to be had. And though the opener was gone in the third, it was Libby Thomas (75) Charlotte Scarborough (59) and Beth Gammon (60) who piled on the runs. Wales finishing on 265-3.

Devon did not have the best of starts, with the openers gone by the sixth over for just 23. Becca Halliday and Olivia Churcher put on a 72 partnership, but sadly Olivia wasn’t able to push on beyond her 38. Becca batted so well, but no one was able to stay with her to help her make her century. Jemma Ansley having to face just four balls to get a Becca back on strike, wasn’t able to complete the over and Becca finished not out on 97!

Wales won once again, this time by 63 runs and Devon’s hopes for finishing top of our group sadly gone!