Berkshire produced a dominant performance to clinch a 130-run victory in Sunday鈥檚 Metro Bank One Day Cup 鈥� Women鈥檚 League 3 final at Kibworth CC.
Eighteen-year-old captain Izzy Storrar led the charge, collecting 54 runs from 86 balls as Berkshire closed their innings on 214/7.
Then Freya Johnson (3/10) and Shayna Chikhlia (4/7), who have both been outstanding all season for Berkshire, helped limit Devon鈥檚 response to just 84 all out in 25.3 overs.
Storrar said: 鈥淚t was just a great day. We knew playing Devon would be tough. They were a dominating team throughout the league campaign, so we knew we just had to do what we do best and stick to the basics.鈥�
She added: 鈥淚 was happy on a personal level with my own performance, but it was just about stepping in when I needed to.鈥�
After witnessing the rise of Johnson and Chikhlia first-hand, Storrar believes Berkshire could continue their progress in the coming years.
She said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e got quite a young team, and it鈥檚 been great to see the progress people have made this year. We鈥檝e really bonded over the season, so next year will definitely be exciting. Our new caps have stepped up whenever we鈥檝e faced challenges, and that鈥檚 been a big positive throughout the summer.鈥�
She added: 鈥淣ext year we鈥檒l definitely look to push higher in the T20 competition, as well as really try to replicate our strong performances in the 50-over fixtures.鈥�
Devon captain Steph Hutchins was philosophical in defeat. She said: 鈥淲e felt like we came off the field in a really good position: we鈥檝e chased over 200 multiple times this summer. Unfortunately, the top three didn鈥檛 really score and a few executions didn鈥檛 quite go our way. But that鈥檚 just how it goes sometimes. I鈥檓 massively pleased with our season overall.鈥�
Consistent excellence from players like Katie Donovan, who took wickets in every game she played, and Elle Golsworthy, who registered more than 400 runs this summer, has given Hutchins lots of reasons to be hopeful for 2026.
鈥淭o finish with only three losses all season is exceptional,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t gives us massive confidence for next year. We know how that we can reach both the T20 and 50-over finals, and we鈥檒l aim to push even further in 2026. We鈥檒l just keep building.鈥�
She added: 鈥淭he women鈥檚 game at Tier 3 is certainly improving. It鈥檚 become much more competitive, with more Academy and Tier 1 players dropping back. That raises the standard, and the more they play in Tier 3, the stronger women鈥檚 cricket becomes overall.鈥�