It’s back-to-back defeats for the Bradninch & Kentisbeare Ladies as they were defeated by Taunton Deane 2nd XI who departed Kensham Park with the points after a 66-run success, this, seven days after the home side were beaten by a margin of 181-runs by Exeter 2nd XI.
Both matches were Devon Womens League Division Two fixtures and, after three games in the 2024 campaign (the third game was an away game at Taunton Deane that was washed out), our ladies sit sixth in the eight-team table with 11 points to their name.
In that first home game, Exeter II won the toss, batted first, and powered their way to an impressive 35-over score of 320-1. After Elle Golsworthy was dismissed for 36 – caught by Abby Hayes to give Colette Bamber her first wicket of the new season, Grace Golsworthy and Rosie Grist took centre stage, adding 278 runs for the unbroken second wicket. Golsworthy ended unbeaten on 158, scored from 104 balls faced, hitting no fewer than 25 fours and also registering one six whole Grist finished unbeaten on 100 with her runs coming from 86 deliveries and she struck nine fours and one six.
In terms of the home bowling effort, skipper Meg Acton called on seven bowlers with the best of the returns being the 1-66 figures from Colette Bamber. The other returns were: Faye Ross (0-70 from 10), Heather Stanbury (0-59 from six), Yvonne Jackson (0-44 from five), Emma Farley (0-9 from one), Abby Hayes (0-34 from five) and the skipper herself with figures of 0-35 from four overs.
Faced with such an imposing total, the B&K Ladies were bowled out for 139 in 32 overs and four balls. Yvone Jackson was the undoubted ‘star’ of the batting effort with her personal contribution being a knock of 76, scored off 83 balls, hitting 11 fours and one six.
The ‘best of the rest’ from the home batting was a knock of 12 not out from Paula Rovira, her runs coming from 29 balls faced and she hit two fours.
The other batting scores (with balls faced in brackets) were: Emma Farley 7(5), Abby Hayes 7(28), Colette Bamber 6(22), Sarah Stanbury 3(9), Meg Acton 1(5), Fi Moran 0(10), Faye Ross 0(4), Roxy Phillips 0(1) while Heather Stanbury did not bat.
In terms of the Exeter II bowling; the best of the returns was the 3-14 from the seven overs sent down by Felicity Cale and a close second was the 3-17 from the 3.4 overs bowled by Elowen Neary.
The meeting with Taunton Deane 2nds saw the visitors win the toss and bat first, closing on 208-7 from their 35 overs. 56 from 68 balls, hitting seven fours before she was bowled by Abby Hayes. Ami Balasubramaniam scored an unbeaten 38 from 32 balls faced and Mila Brooke scored 25 from 38 balls before she was run out by a throw from Roxy Phillips. Abby Hayes was responsible for the run-out that saw an end to the 18-ball 21 from Nicola Worley while the only other double figure score from a visiting batter was the 12-ball 13 from Grace Kibble – her knock ended by an Abby Hayes catch off the bowling of skipper Megan Acton.
The pick of the home bowling returns was the 2-23 from seven overs sent down by Colette Bamber. Three bowlers took a wicket each with the respective returns being: Yvonne Jackson (1-26 from seven), Meg Acton (1-41 from seven) and Abby Hayes (1-62 from seven). The other bowling returns were: Meg Phillips (0-9 from one) and opening seamer Faye Ross (0-45 from six).
In the B&K Ladies reply, opener Sarah Stanbury was bowled for a 14-ball duck and fellow opener went for 13, scored off 39 balls. However, that was as good as it got it terms of the visiting bowling attack for skipper Meg Acton joined number three bat Yvonne Jackson and the pair, who came together for the final ball of the 12th over and both were still there when the final delivery of the 35th over was sent down.
The pair faced a ball more than 33 overs and added 115 runs for the unbroken third wicket. Yvonne Jackson finished not out 42, scored off 83 balls, hitting four fours while skipper Meg Acton was unbeaten on 69, hitting no fewer than eleven fours from the 84 balls she faced as her team closed on 142-2 after 35 overs with the visitors claiming a 66-run win.
For Taunton Deane 2nds, the pick of the bowling returns was 1-16 from seven overs sent down by Georgia Adams while the other wicket taker was Ami Balasubramaniam (1-17 from four overs).
The remainder of the B&K Ladies, who did not bat, were: Abby Hayes, Colette Bamber, Paula Rovira, Faye Ross, Emma Farley, Justine Reed and Roxy Phillips.
Latest Devon Womens League Division Two table (as at April 29)
P Pts
Exeter 2 38
Clyst St George 1 20
Taunton Deane 2 18
Topsham St James 2 18
Exmouth CC 2 13
B&K CC 3 11
Heathcoat 1 3
Bovey Tracey 1 0