Culmstock's cricket team faced Honiton's team in an exciting bat-and-ball exchange that saw the visiting side batting first.

Culmstock's captain failed at the toss, leading to Honiton's openers, Holmes and Lapping, making a strong start where both attained wicket maidens, resulting in a score of 0-2.

Lapping successfully took the wicket of Salter during an intense opening, which led to Culmstock's middle order restructuring the game.

Turning the tide, Ostler and Ingram managed to lower the opponent's run rate to three per over, achieving a partnership exceeding 50 by the drinks break.

Ostler continued to put on formidable pressure, taking out Bell (37) followed by Cobb (35) for a score of 107- 4.

Summerfield and Palfrey took on Kelly, who replaced Ingram, with each player scoring in the mid-thirties before Palfrey (36) was dismissed by Conway, marking the score 159-7.

Substitute Doherty successfully claimed the remaining three wickets, finishing 3-18 and leaving Culmstock at 177 all out.

Honiton's dynamic duo, Haysom and Conway, led the counterattack, surpassing the required rate until Conway (13) was bowled out by Bell, leaving the score at 16-1.

Haysom was later dismissed by S Berry with the score standing at 54-2, followed by Groves and Hext, together navigating their team to 84-2 at drinks.

However, Honiton then required 69 off the final 10 overs and despite heroic efforts, fell short with a score of 110-3.

Holmes came to Hext's aid, powerfully hitting his third ball over the boundary before being caught out.

With 50 needed in 6.5 overs, Doherty swiftly took and swiftly lost his place, leaving Canniford to join Hext.

A rapid 15 runs were added, but an over was lost to rain, leaving 36 off 23 balls to win.

Canniford and Hext worked tirelessly, the latter surpassing his half-century, making victory seem achievable – until Hext was caught out with 53, leaving 13 to score off the last six balls.

The final over saw Honiton tragically lose two wickets including Canniford (19) and accumulate just 3 runs, ending 10 runs short of Culmstock's total.

The efforts of Andrew Lapping, umpiring both ends, and Andy Canniford, compiling the report, were gratefully recognised.