Devon complete double over Tamar neighbours Cornwall
Devon Under-15s completed the double over Cornwall as they eased to an eight-wicket win at Killerton House. In the picturesque settings of the National Trust grounds Devon opted to bowl first given the amount of rain around, and the prevailing forecast. As it happened the weather played no part as the sun continued to shine while showers were around almost everywhere else in the county. The Devon bowlers worked extremely hard and the Cornish girls found runs difficult to come by. After the early loss of opener Dyer, caught by Esme Ansley off the bowling of Clara Nielson, Kerry Stevens joined skipper Nicole Richards and looked to get after the Devon bowlers, but when she fell in the 10th over other wickets soon followed as the the hosts made further inroads into a young and inexperienced batting line-up with skipper Becky Piddock picking up 2-8 from six overs. When Richards was joined by youngster Beth Hawken Cornwall were reeling at 52-6. The youngster played extremely well and, together with her captain, took the score up to 89 before she was done by the pace of Rebecca Donohue and was bowled for a well made 12. Richards batted through the innings for a patient and controlled 32 as Cornwall’s innings closed on 96-7.
Devon’s reply was a well structured and controlled affair as openers Frances Lausen and Esme Ansley ticked along at three an over for the first 15 overs before upping the rate to just over four an over before Ansley fell to a smart catch from Stevens off the impressive Richards, who bowled her seven overs for 10 runs. Kate Sargeant joined Lausen and hit a sweet cover drive to the boundary before also being caught with just two to win. Lausen saw Devon home as they eased to an eight-wicket win to maintain their position as the early pacesetters in their division.