Plymouth chase title boost as Exmouth look to ease survival pressure

Exmouth v Plymouth

1.00pm – The Maer

What happened the last time the sides met?

Plymouth made short work of the first meeting between these sides at Mount Wise.

Exmouth were bowled out for 40, with Plymouth captain Missy Banks producing an exceptional spell of 5-1.

The chase was wrapped up in 8.1 overs, Plymouth reaching 41 for one to win by nine wickets. Iona Pennington was unbeaten on 24 when the winning runs were scored.

This weekend’s game

There is considerably more at stake this time around.

Plymouth are right in the middle of the title race and Banks has been one of the main reasons why. She has scored 495 league runs – second only to Elle Golsworthy – and has also taken 16 wickets at an average of 10.38.

Sophie Brandom has added another 13 wickets to Plymouth’s attack.

There is some good news for Plymouth before the trip to The Maer, with Darcey Boote back after missing the Exeter game. Molly Searle will keep wicket in place of the Greenwood girls, who are away.

Banks knows Plymouth cannot afford to ease off now.

“We need another big performance to ensure we are in the mix for the final game,” she said.

Exmouth have some welcome news of their own, with Jasmyne Watson returning from injury to captain the side after being unable to take part in last weekend’s win over Cornwood.

Bethany Holmes (pictured) also comes into Sunday’s game on the back of season-best figures of 5-15 against Cornwood. She now has 11 league wickets for the season, while Watson has taken 12, including a five-wicket haul of her own.

Watson believes that first league win of the season has given Exmouth a lift at just the right time.

“I’m back this weekend and was so proud of the girls for getting their first win against Cornwood last weekend. Last time around against Plymouth didn’t go overly well for us, but we’re in a much better position now and there’s a lot of confidence in the camp.

“There’s also a little added incentive this weekend — Lucy Humphreys is currently on 243 runs for the season and has promised to buy us all breakfast before the final game of the season if she reaches 300 on Sunday, so we’ll all be cheering her on!”

Humphreys therefore needs another 57 runs to reach the 300 mark, giving the Exmouth dressing room one more reason to take an interest in her innings on Sunday.

What is at stake? 

Plymouth go into the weekend four points behind Paignton and three behind Exeter.

Their task is simple enough – keep winning and hope to take advantage of the fact the top two are playing each other.

Across the final two rounds they need to make up five points on Paignton and four on Exeter to finish above both.

Exmouth’s concern is at the other end of the table. They have an 18-point advantage over Cornwood and another 23 points would make them safe regardless of what happens elsewhere.

They would rather not leave everything hanging on the final-day meeting with Cornwood, so anything they can take from Plymouth on Sunday could be extremely valuable.