Division Three and the T20 Plate returned to action this weekend, while the T20 Eight-a-Side competition got underway with its first fixture of the season. With plenty of action throughout the weekend, here’s how the teams got on.

Division Three 

Exmouth 2nd XI welcomed Ottery St Mary to The Maer, winning the toss and choosing to bat first. The visitors made an excellent start with the ball, reducing Exmouth to 30-6 and putting themselves firmly in control. However, Ellie Jamani showed great resilience, carrying her bat for an unbeaten 29 from 102 deliveries, while Amelie Watson added 11 to help the hosts recover to 106/7 from their allotted overs. Alice Gregory was the standout performer for Ottery, claiming three wickets.

Ottery’s reply got off to a shaky start as Ellie Jamani struck twice without a run on the board, giving Exmouth early hope. However, contributions from Darcey Jones (17), Katy Gracie (22), and Rosie Nancekivell (17*) steadied the innings and guided the visitors to 107/7 in 26 overs. The victory sees Ottery St Mary move to the top of the Division Three table.

Elsewhere, Holsworthy hosted Bovey Tracey after winning the toss and electing to field first. Bovey produced a strong batting display, led by O McCauley, who struck an impressive 71* from 85 balls. A Webber also made a valuable 40, while L Godfrey was the pick of the Holsworthy bowlers, taking three wickets as Bovey posted 166/6.

Holsworthy began their chase positively, with H Steadman (22) and R Evans (6) putting on 46 for the opening wicket. Once the partnership was broken, however, the hosts struggled to maintain momentum and wickets fell at regular intervals. Bovey Tracey kept control of the contest and eventually secured victory by 86 runs, condemning Holsworthy to their third league defeat of the season.

T20 8 A Side Group A 

Clyst St George welcomed Exmouth 4th XI for the first T20 eight-a-side fixture of the season. After winning the toss, Exmouth elected to field first, but an early breakthrough did little to slow the hosts’ momentum.

R Batchelor and D Bishop led the way with 85 runs added to the total between them. Batchelor made 41 before being dismissed, while Bishop remained the driving force of the innings with an impressive 44*. Unfortunately for the hosts, wickets continued to fall around them, with D Spillings taking four herself, denying Bishop the opportunity to reach a deserved half-century as Clyst St George were eventually bowled out for 125.

Exmouth began their chase positively, with H Wood (17), F Sampson (18), and N Batheram (36*) all making valuable contributions. Despite those efforts, the visitors struggled to build the partnerships needed to keep pace with the required run rate. Clyst St George’s bowlers shared the wickets between them, maintaining pressure throughout the innings as Exmouth were bowled out for 111, handing the hosts a well-earned victory.

Captain Ali West reflected on the game, “CSG had a close match against Exmouth in the T20 8s on Sunday. After finishing our batting innings on 125, we were hoping that would be enough to give us some breathing space, but Exmouth started strongly with some great batting. After a bit of a reshuffle of the field, we settled down a bit, and after some excellent fielding and bowling, we managed to stay ahead and win by 16 runs. It was a game played in the true spirit of cricket, with a mix of fun and competition between the two sides!”

T20 Plate Group A 

Hatherleigh made the trip to Cornwood for their latest T20 Plate fixture, with the home side winning the toss and choosing to field first. The visitors made the perfect start thanks to an outstanding opening partnership between Chloe Rose and Chloe Dennis. The pair added 127 for the first wicket, with Dennis scoring 58 before being run out by H Bale. Mia Spears was dismissed first ball by H Simpson, but R Dennis joined Rose, who finished unbeaten on 46, to guide Hatherleigh to an impressive 135/2 from their 20 overs.

Cornwood’s reply got off to a difficult start when H. Bale was dismissed early by Jess Dennis. However, O Dhulkotia (21) and K De Villiers (47) responded with a valuable partnership of 63 to keep the chase alive. Once De Villiers fell to the bowling of O Cooper, the momentum shifted back in Hatherleigh’s favour. Regular wickets prevented Cornwood from building any sustained pressure, and despite their efforts, the hosts were eventually bowled out for 100, giving Hatherleigh a comfortable victory.

Captain Jess Rose reflected on the game, “We had a great competitive win in our first T20 game of the season, with all players getting involved. Bring on the next!”

T20 Plate Group C

Bradninch & Kentisbeare and Taunton Deane met for the second consecutive week, this time on Bradninch’s home ground. After winning the toss, the hosts elected to field first, but Taunton Deane’s batters quickly took control of the contest.

Openers Niamh Wait and Grace Kibble laid the foundations with an excellent partnership, adding 95 runs together. Kibble made 40 before becoming the only wicket to fall, dismissed by Heather Stanbury. Wait remained unbeaten on 68, while captain Harriet Kelly added further momentum with a quickfire 47 not out from just 32 balls, helping Taunton Deane post an imposing 187/1 from their 20 overs.

In reply, Bradninch & Kentisbeare lost Fi Moran (14) in the eighth over and found it difficult to keep pace with the required run rate. Emma Farley top-scored with 17, while Yvonne Jackson (14) and Jess Phillips (10) attempted to keep the scoreboard moving. However, Taunton Deane’s bowlers maintained control throughout, restricting the hosts to 81/5 from their 20 overs.

The result secured a second victory in as many meetings for Taunton Deane, who continued their strong start to the T20 Plate campaign.