Harry Everett reports on a tense and thrilling Sunday at Bohea Field which resulted in a nervy win for Topsham St James (TSJ) over Clyst St George (CSG).

After winning the toss, TSJ captain, Hannah Clark, made the decision to give CSG the ball. It was they who struck in the third over when Rosie Miller (9) was caught behind by Alyssia Hayes off the bowling of Maisie Cleveland. This brought Clark into partner Lucy Humphreys and the pair scored quickly to race to a score of 81 before Clark (34) was bowled by Esme Brooks.

Emily Bacon was next in and helped Humphreys to just two short of her half century before she was trapped leg-before by Charlie Thorpe. 114-3 quickly turned into 119-4 when Thorpe bowled Bacon (5) with the first ball of her next over. Lily Harlond and Liv Woollam kept the score ticking over to reach 131 before Harlond (11) became Brooks’ second wicket of the day. Three balls later, Woollam (3) was caught behind from the bowling of Ali West.

At the start of the 31st over, Imogen Perry was the third TSJ batter to fall to the bowling of Brooks (this time catching it herself). The final pairing, including Natalie Sparks (on debut) were able to reach a total of 137 before Rosie Batchelor ended the TSJ innings.

1st innings highlights:

CSG – Esme Brooks (3 for 16 off 5 and 1 catch), Charlie Thorpe (2 for 22 off 7), Alyssia Hayes (2 catches)

TSJ – Lucy Humphreys (48, including six 4s), Hannah Clark (34 off 32 balls, including five 4s)

With just nine players in the field, TSJ needed to bowl and field well to prevent CSG from claiming victory. And this was exactly what they did.

The third ball of the fifth over saw Woollam make the breakthrough, knocking over the stumps of opener Hayes (10). Thorpe and Mollie Stokes continued to score regularly before Lucy Humphreys came into the attack. Her next three overs proved decisive as she took three wickets (thanks to catches from Woollam and Harlond) for just two runs and with Rosie Miller also bowling the opener Stokes, leaving CSG 45-5.

Spirits were higher again for TSJ when Woollam showed a tidy piece of fielding to run-out Isabelle Wells, CSG were left needing over 80 runs with just 4 wickets in hand. However, the pairing of Rosie Batchelor and Ali West were not prepared to roll over easily after drinks. It took until the 25th over before the bowlers struck again, when West (18) was run-out after CSG had moved to 106 and seemed to be heading towards victory.

But, the 28th over saw the tide of the game turn back towards TSJ as Miller took two wickets in three balls. The innings was two balls short of 30 overs when Harlond claimed the final wicket, a wicket her bowling display deserved, leaving Topsham St James with the 19-run victory.

2nd innings highlights:

TSJ - Rosie Miller (3 for 15 off 7), Lucy Humphreys (3 for 17 off 6 – including two wicket maidens), Lily Harlond (1 for 27 off 5.4 and 1 catch)

CSG - Rosie Batchelor (37*, including five 4s), Ali West (18 off 14 balls)