Tolchards T20 Eight-a-Side Final
Bovey Tracey 105-4 beat Budleigh Salterton 102-5 by three runs
Bovey Tracey completed a double-winning season after holding their nerve to beat Budleigh Salterton by three runs in a thrilling Tolchards T20 eight-a-side final at Exeter.
Isabelle Bradley was the standout performer, carrying her bat for an unbeaten 61 as Bovey posted 105 for four before restricting Budleigh to 102 for five in a contest that remained in the balance until the final delivery.
Having won all six of their group matches on the way to the final, Bovey arrived at Exeter with plenty of confidence, although Budleigh made the first breakthrough when Stella Westaway bowled Terri Hayes for three with the score on 14.
Bradley quickly settled and became the cornerstone of the Bovey innings.
She and Isabella Baker added 58 for the second wicket, steadily building a competitive total before Baker was run out by Charlotte Taylor for 16 at 72 for two.
Lynsey Sell followed without scoring, also run out, while Lily Driver made five before being caught and bowled by Taylor.
Bradley, though, remained throughout. Her unbeaten 61 came from 68 balls and included eight fours, an innings that ultimately proved decisive in such a tight contest.
Katie Price was unbeaten on one alongside her as Bovey closed on 105 for four from their 20 overs.
Westaway was the pick of the Budleigh attack with one for seven from four overs, while Taylor returned one for 12.
Budleigh's reply suffered an early setback when Hannah Bolwell was bowled by Baker for seven with the score on 18, but Taylor and Kirsty Robinson ensured Bovey would have to work hard for the trophy.
The pair added 40 for the second wicket before Taylor, having made 32 from 42 balls with five boundaries, was bowled by Sell.
Robinson continued to keep Budleigh firmly in contention and found support from Briar Chatterton before Driver removed Chatterton for four.
The game was still wide open heading into the final three overs, with Budleigh 86 for three and Robinson still at the crease.
Price was handed the 18th over and, although Robinson found the boundary during it, Bovey claimed a crucial wicket with the final ball when Price bowled Jayne Robinson for five.
Budleigh had moved on to 94 for four, leaving them needing 12 from the final two overs.
Driver then kept the pressure firmly on the chasing side, conceding just five from the penultimate over to leave Budleigh 99 for four and needing seven from the final six balls.
The responsibility for the last over fell to Baker - and she delivered.
Baker started with three successive dot balls to Alice Parker before a single brought Kirsty Robinson back on strike. A wide followed, but Baker responded with another dot to leave Budleigh needing five from the final delivery to win.
They could manage only one.
Robinson was run out by Ava Cowper and Terri Hayes attempting to keep the chase alive, ending a determined innings of 34 from 29 balls as Budleigh finished on 102 for five.
Bovey had won by three runs.
Although they missed out on the trophy, Budleigh can take plenty from their first season in the competition. They were one of the new sides to enter the eight-a-side format and, despite an enjoyable if slightly interrupted campaign, made it all the way to the final.
That gives Budleigh something solid to build on as they move into the 11-a-side T20 competition in 2027.
For Bovey, victory rounded off an excellent season.
The T20 eight-a-side trophy joins the Tolchards Division Three title to complete a double-winning campaign, while they also came close to adding another trophy after narrowly losing to Hatherleigh in the semi-final of the 11-a-side T20 Plate.
Two trophies, an unbeaten eight-a-side campaign and a strong Plate run make 2026 a season Bovey Tracey will remember for some time.
By Chris Sleep
