Devon Women secured the Metro Bank One Day Cup League Three Division 1 title on a rain-affected day at Exeter CC on Sunday.

With rain forecast for the afternoon, Devon chose to bowl first and immediately made a breakthrough, Melissa Story taking a straightforward catch off Maggie Haffenden's bowling in the second over to dismiss Sophie Warrilow for just a single run. Matilda Atherton-Gater and Megan Pittman then steadied the innings for Staffordshire, adding 50 runs for the second wicket before Pittman's (46) edge was superbly caught by Imogen Daldorph off Ellie Bishop. Bishop and Daldorph combined again shortly after, removing Atherton-Gater for 21, and when Maddie Davies fell to Katie Donovan for 26, Staffordshire found themselves at 164/4 in the 35th over.

Lydia Perry then took control for the visitors. She found support from Helen Hughes (32) in a 52-run fifth-wicket stand before captain Steph Hutchins broke the partnership. Perry accelerated through the middle overs, reaching her century from 98 balls with 14 boundaries. Bishop returned to claim the final three wickets in the last over, finishing with figures of 5-44 as Staffordshire were dismissed for 269.

Rain before the second innings reduced Devon's target to 260 from 36 overs. Jemima Vereker (41) and Darcey Boote (33) started positively, adding 69 for the first wicket before Vereker fell lbw to Molly Dytham. Boote was dismissed by Anusha Chauhan at 102/2, and Bishop (26) followed at 121-3. Rain interrupted play with Regina Lilii (31) and Melissa Story at the crease, and further rain eventually ended the innings after 35.2 overs.

Lilii was run out in a very close call at 158/5, and wickets continued to fall as Georgia Read (12) and captain Hutchins (1) both departed in the following seven balls. Imogen Daldorph (3) and Katie Donovan (8) were unbeaten at the close, but Devon finished on 174/7, falling 23 runs short of the final DLS target and falling to a first 50-over league defeat since May 2019.

Results elsewhere, however, ensured Devon Women topped their 50-over group for the third successive season, claiming the Metro Bank League Three Division 1 title for the first time since the restructuring of the women's game in 2025.

Scorecard

Devon Women 174/4 (J Vereker 41, D Boote 33; A Chauhan 2-44)

Staffordshire 269 ((L Perry 102, M Pittman 46; E Bishop 5-44, M Haffenden 2-31, S Hutchins 2-42)

Staffordshire beat Devon Women by 22 runs.

Lauren Rowles's Post-Match Thoughts

"Wow, what a season. I couldn’t be prouder of the girls and everything they've put into this campaign. It wasn't the ending we hoped for in the final game against Staffordshire, but the group absolutely deserve to be crowned Tier 3 50-over champions.

"Every single player has contributed in such a positive way, fully buying into how we want to play and showing real commitment to our Lion Mentality throughout. The attitude, togetherness and intent have been outstanding from start to finish.

"We’ve had some brilliant individual performances (far too many to list), and while those moments win you games, it's the way the girls have played as a team that's won us the league. A fantastic achievement and one everyone should be incredibly proud of!"