Hat-Trick of wins on Super Sunday! – Soft Ball Women’s Report

161 years after formation, Thorverton CC was delighted to play it’s first ever Women’s matches on Sunday and the team were keen to make up for lost time, as Alex Jopling reports.

After just 6 training sessions the newly formed womens team took the trip to Budleigh Salterton on Sunday for their first softball cricket festival.

Two Exmouth sides and a Yelverton/Buckland contingent made up the four-team festival. The format for the day was 16 overs per side, with batting pairs facing 4 overs each. A wicket resulted in 5 runs added to the oppositions total.

Exmouth Fluorescents were first up and, having won the toss, co-captains Keeley and Sophie opted to bat.

Sporting new TCC playing tops, Sophie and Lucy opened the batting and put on 39 for the loss of 2 wickets, Sophie in particular making use of the short boundary and quick outfield.

Juliette and Anju then ran well as a pair to add another 14, again for the loss of 2. Charlie and Sureka were in next and combined big hitting with quick running putting on a brilliant 38 without losing a wicket. Tash and Ness then finished off the innings against some accurate Exmouth bowling and sharp catching to finish on 120 for the loss of 7 wickets.

The players kept in their pairs for bowling sets of 4 overs. The first 4 from Tash and Ness were up there with the best of the day as 3 wickets were taken for just 11 runs. Tash’s second over being a double wicket maiden! The Exmouth batters soon got into their stride though and started to find the boundary regularly, scoring 69 from the next 8 overs with just one wicket taken by Juiliette. Having not batted Keeleys first contribution to the game was a wicket, clean bowling the Exmouth batter with her first ball! 

Having started on 35 (for their 7 wickets taken) the Exmouth Fluorescents finished on a total of 120, with Thorverton adding 25 (for their 5 wickets taken) to their score of 120 meaning a total of 145. 

The second game against Exmouth Blues went in similar fashion. 

3 boundaries from Keeley in a partnership of 34 with daughter Lucy got Thorverton off to a good start. Angu and Juliette then put on 40, including two sixes from the latter. Sophie and the newly arrived – and slightly hungover – Lisa lost the first 2 wickets of the game in their first over, a great caught and bowled and and a sharp caught behind from the keeper. The pair soon recovered though and took the second over for 23 – finishing their 4 overs with a partnership of 51. More quick running from Sureka and Charlie including five 2s and a 3, added 45, bringing the total to 171 for the loss of 2 wickets.

In defending a big score saving the boundaries was always important and the bowlers did a good job of it, with the rope being hit only a couple of times through miss-fields. Lucy was the pick of the bowlers taking 1 wicket for just 4 runs from her 2 overs. Charlies catch in the outfield is also worth a mention. A few wides and some clean striking towards the end took Exmouth to 131 (including +10 for wickets) but it was not enough with Thorverton finishing on 186 (including +15 for wickets). 

After a BBQ lunch the sun came out and the spectators gathered for the final game against the Moorland Maidens.

Batting first once again Sophie and Lisa opened up and initially found the loopy bowling difficult to get away. They soon found their rhythm though and made a solid 38 for no wickets. Lucy and Keeley were next in and decided to take the hit and run approach, a run-out in their first over did not put them off and they made 32. After a game off batting Ness and Tash put on a good 36 including 4 boundaries. A strong team batting display was finished with 39 from the ever-consistent Sureka and Charlie meaning a total of 145 for the loss of just one wicket. 

Anju took the first over and fielded well off her own bowling to run out the non-striker. The Moorland captain then found the boundary 3 times in a row before Anju clean bowled her, prompting a jump for joy! It was a good 43 hit by the first pair of batters but Charlie and Sureka managed to keep the second pair to 29. A wicket first ball from Tash and accurate bowling from Ness reduced the third pair to just 18 runs. In the final 4 overs Lucy once again was hardly hit for a run and Lisa finally got the wicket she deserved, much to her delight! Moorland finished on 126 (including +5 for wickets) to Thorvertons 165 (including +20 for wickets).

It was 3 from 3 then for the day, with clear improvement and enjoyment from all. This is clearly just the start for this team who are planning on entering the womens softball league next season!

A big thank you to Budleigh Salterton CC for hosting the day, Ben Slaviero for umpiring and Alex Jopling for scoring.

The women’s team are looking for a shirt sponsor for 2022 when we hope to play many more fixtures. Please email seniors@thorvertoncricketclub.com if you would like to support the continued growth of Women’s cricket in Thorverton.