Exmouth secured their Division One survival with a five-wicket victory over Cornwood at The Maer, bringing the visitors’ stay in the top flight to an end.
The equation before play was straightforward. Exmouth went into the final afternoon 17 points clear of Cornwood and knew four points would guarantee safety, while Cornwood needed to take 17 more points than their hosts to survive.
Exmouth captain Jasmyne Watson had made it clear beforehand that her side wanted to finish with a victory rather than simply do enough.
After winning the toss and choosing to field, Exmouth bowled Cornwood out for 68 in 19.2 overs, with Amalie Baxter returning remarkable figures of 3-0 from just 1.2 overs.
Cornwood were in trouble early. Gemma Lancaster made six before Helly Simpson and Frankie Lee fell in quick succession, leaving the visitors 11-4 inside six overs.
Kiera De Villiers provided the main resistance. Her 26 from 27 balls, including five fours, gave the innings some substance, but Exmouth never allowed a partnership to develop.
Watson returned 2-6 from four overs, including two maidens, Bethany Holmes took 2-13 and Laila Escott 2-23, while Lucy Webb also picked up a wicket.
Baxter then swept through the lower order without conceding a run.
Exmouth’s chase produced a rather different talking point – an unusual and unwanted trio of golden ducks.
Lucy Humphreys, Jasmyne Watson and Eloise Escott were all dismissed first ball during an innings in which Cornwood continued to fight despite having only 68 to defend.
Sasha Gerrick made 11 before Holly Evans (pictured) counter-attacked, although Imogen Garland’s two wickets in the fifth over, including Escott first ball, left Exmouth 48-5 and gave Cornwood a brief glimmer of hope.
Evans and Baxter made sure there would be no late twist.
They added an unbeaten 22, with Evans finishing 18 not out from 13 balls and Baxter completing an excellent all-round afternoon with 15 not out from 12.
Exmouth reached target in just 7.5 overs to complete the win.
The final Division One table saw Exmouth finish fifth on 78 points, while Cornwood were relegated in sixth on 46 after going through the league season without a victory.
Watson’s two wickets took her to 17 for the season and third place in the final Division One bowling standings, while Holmes finished sixth with 15.
Humphreys had gone into the game needing 17 runs to reach 300 for the season. Her golden duck left her on 283, still enough for seventh place in the final Division One batting standings.
For Exmouth, however, the afternoon was primarily about securing another season of Division One cricket – and a young side which had shown plenty of progress during the year signed off with the victory they wanted.
Chris Sleep Reporting
