Read twins share the limelight as Exeter lift national title

Exeter

EXETER Under-13 Girls are the new Lady Taverners’ Club T20 champions after defeating South Northumberland by 49 runs in the national final.

Exeter won through the county, and regional rounds of the competition to reach a festival finals day at Neston in Cheshire where the top four sides in the age group battled it out.

Coton were easily defeated in the semi-final when Exeter chased 54 to win in the eight-a-side format without losing a wicket.

There were three wickets each for Letty Lovell (3-15) and Imogen Daldorph (3-6) as the Shropshire side were bowled out for 53.

Georgia Read (29) and Beatrix Willis (24) needed less than nine overs to knock off the runs.

South Northumberland, who defeated Richmond in the other semi, posed a few more problems for the Exeter girls.

Opener Georgia Read continued where she left off against Coton, but only Erin Vukusic (15) stayed around long as Exeter dipped to 48 for six.

Georgia was on 26 not out when a familiar face appeared at the other end – twin sister Cate who was the last batter in the hutch.

The twins stayed together for 10 overs to get Exeter up to 99 all out. Cate only made three runs, but Georgia advanced to 67 not out as Exeter recovered to reach 99 all out.

That stand proved priceless as South Northumberland were bowled out for 50. Opener and captain Olivia Miller (21) was the only batter to reach double figures.

Eliza Heard took two wickets in two balls as South Northumberland faltered early in their reply.

Daldorph and Lovell kept the runs down in the middle then Willis (2-2) wrapped things up with nearly three overs to go in a 47-run win.