Devon Cricket Board - Devon Ladies off to flying start

Devon Ladies off to flying start

DEVON ladies opened their 2014 County Championship campaign with a resounding 167-run victory over Staffordshire at Instow on Bank Holiday Monday.

Having rounded their pre-season off with a routine victory over Cornwall at Torquay the previous day, Devon made five changes, bringing back Amara Carr, Hazelle Garton, Lydia Harris, Emily Ward and Jessie Jones who were rested on Sunday.

Staffordshire asked Devon to bat first and despite some accurate bowling early in the piece Carr and Harris made a patient 81 opening stand to lay the foundation for a 200-plus score.

Harris (16) fell to a leading edge, caught at backward point as the openers looked to accelerate, so Carr was joined by Rosalie Fairbairn.

Having reached her half-century Carr was trapped lbw for a well-made 53, which included four boundaries.

When Fairbairn was bowled for a quick fire 20 it was left to Alli Kelly and Jodie Dibble to accelerate the innings which they did with a lot of aggressive running.

Kelly (27) was unlucky to be run- out when a throw from the boundary landed direct on the stumps but by then Devon were well on course for to top 200.

Cait O’Keefe joined skipper Dibble, making an unbeaten 22 from 15 balls, and when Dibble (49) fell one short of a deserved half-century, Hannah Linton helped O’Keefe to take the total to 228. She was out off the last ball of the innings, the pair adding 19 from 10 balls.

Rain was threatening and it was important that Devon got 20 overs in and also kept Staffordshire under the required run rate once 20 overs were bowled.

The heavy rain forecast did not materialise and Devon’s bowlers were clinical as they ran through a Staffordshire batting card where only four players scored, there being seven players making 0.

The innings got off the worst start as Rebecca Donohue and Phoebe Graham removed the top three with only 13.

Left-arm spinners Jodie Dibble (4-11) and Hazelle Garton (2-16) wrapped up a comprehensive win.

“With all players back fit and available, there should be no reason why this Devon side should not be capable of a strong showing in 2014,” said lead coach Warren Carr.

Next up is the away double header to Wales (Swansea) and Somerset (County Ground, Taunton) at the end of the month.

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