This weekend saw Hatherleigh host Cornwood at home and North Devon travel away to Axminster. It was a beautiful afternoon for cricket and Hatherleigh were looking to for a win against Cornwood, as were Axminster, who had lost their first game this season last weekend and needed a win to keep their hopes of retaining their place as league Champions. 

At Axminster, North Devon won the toss and elected to bat. North Devon started well with some quick boundaries, but in an exceptionally tight bowling performance from Axminster, wickets fell quickly around the opening batter, Rose Ball (25) who kept her head, only taking the occasional boundary (including 1 boundary 6), but eventually fell to the bowling of Holly Elsworth, when she was caught by Anna Parkinson ( 2 for 11 off 5) The bowling performance of the match belonged to Catherine Webb, bowling 6 overs (3 maidens)  for 12 runs and taking 6 wickets. Despite a great effort of 25 at the end of the innings from North Devon, they were bowled out for 103 in 17 overs. 

Feeling like they had refound their form, Axminster took to the crease and with the loss of 3 wickets around the opening batsman Maddie Hollifield (37*), Anna Parkinson came in and scored 23 to see Axminster over the target in 17 overs. This win keeps Axminster in second place behind Hatherleigh, but keeps the top of the table interesting. 

 

Hatherleigh hosted Cornwood, who are the only team that Hatherleigh have lost to this season. Hatherleigh won the toss and elected to field, which soon paid off as Hester Presswell took the wicket of opening batter,  Gemma Lancaster for 2. Wickets fell regularly, but as we moved into the middle overs Stacey Maskelyne (36) and Kelly Luscombe (25) batted sensibly and had just reached a partnership of 50 when Eloise Maxa caught Stacey off the bowling of Holly Presswell. The loss of Kelly two runs later to the bowling of India Spears left Cornwood with two new batsmen at the crease on 111 for 5. While Hannah Bale made 13*, her partners could not stay with her and Cornwood ended their 35 over with 140. This would be a tough call for Hatherleigh who had not needed to score highly in previous games to win and whose batting had sometimes been the weaker side of their game. 

Hatherleigh started positively with Chloe Rose and Lucy Quick opening, but the bowling of Gemma Lancaster (3 for 25 off 7) taking two quick wickets left Hatherleigh on 29 for 2. However Hatherleigh regained their composure and India Spears and Lucy began to build a partnership, but were soon to be defeated by Cornwood's bowling as Cornwood again took two quick wickets and Hatherleigh were 46 for 4, with two new batters at the crease and the loopy bowling of Emma Gibson, who had taken many wickets in their previous game, to contend with. 

However, all their training to face this bowling with Tino, the overseas from Zimbabwe, came to fruition as new batters Holly Presswell and Alicia Stebbing played through and put on a partnership of 70 before Alicia was run out on 41. Needing 25 runs Hester, Holly's sister came out to bat and between them they saw Hatherleigh over the total with 4.2 overs to spare, Holly Presswell ending on 44*, a personal best for her. 

This win put Hatherleigh back to the top of the table on 79 points, 18 points clear of Plympton who they face for their next 2 fixtures. Plympton are the only team in the league unbeaten and also have a game in hand. Plympton look to maintaining this unbeaten record, while Hatherleigh wish to maintain their position at the top of the table - could be an exciting game!