Worcestershire card | Wales card
TWO wins in as many days got Devon Women back on track after their disappointing defeat by Somerset.
Worcestershire were comprehensively defeated by 10 wickets at Bovey Tracey, followed by an altogether tougher three-wicket victory over Wales at North Devon.
Worcester were bowled out for 117 – Hazelle Garton and Steph Hutchins claiming three wickets each.
Mille Squire and Sophie Mackenzie took a wicket each – in the opening three overs to leave the Pears reeling at four for two.
Keeper and captain Amara Carr took a diving catch for the first breakthrough with Squire trapping England Academy player Thea Brookes lbw
Claire Boycott (19) and captain Lauren Rowles (43) put in 48 for the third wicket before both Boycott (19) and Rowles (45) were prised out by close catches by Cait O’Keefe off the ultra consistent Garton.
Off-spinner Steph Hutchins (3-14) joined Garton (3-21) in dismantling the visitors’ middle.
Tail ender Izzy Watson hit 22 from 25 balls to get Worcestershire past the 100 mark before skipper Carr brought back Squire (2-25) and Mackenzie (2-5) to mop up the tail.
Devon had to bat before tea interval, taken at 89 for nine with O’Keefe and Mackenzie the not out batters.
Player of the match O’Keefe finished unbeaten on 66, with Mackenzie on 43 when the winning runs were scored in the 33rd over.
Wales proved a far tougher nut to crack even after Devon had kept them to 142 for nine in their 50 overs.
Devon started brightly with two clean bowleds for left-arm seamer Emily Edgcombe either side of a fantastic throw from the boundary to run out Gabby Basketter, who had taken a ton of Somerset the day before.
Devon kept taking wickets, which enabled them to keep control of the run rate,
Hutchins proved her worth again with three more wickets
Charlotte Scarborough (37no) and former Devon player Lydia Clements (10no) got Wales to 142 for nine from their 50 overs.
This time O’Keefe went cheaply when Devon batted, but Carr and Mackenzie added 33 in untroubled fashion before Mackenzie holed out to mid-on.
Devon’s middle ordered wobbled from 35 for two to 96 for six, but throughout it player of the match Carr batted on.
When Carr fell for an excellent 59 the target was 38 to win. Suzie McDonald joined Becca Silk and between them they got the hosts home.
Devon’s target in 2017 was to ensure Division Two cricket for 2018 while they rebuild after losing players.
These results mean should Devon win their final two games then an unplanned promotion to the top flight of women’s cricket would be theirs.
That will have to wait for the double-header against Hampshire and Surrey over the August Bank Holiday.
For now attention turns to the T20 campaign before returning to County Championship action.