After a 32 year hiatus, Thorverton CC were back in the 2nd tier of the Devon Cricket League. It was a trip to sunny Torquay and the Recreation Ground which has previously hosted minor counties and first class cricket. No better place to start then.
The XI was: Chilcott, Fielder+, Diamond, Van der Meulen, Robbins, Pitt, Hooper, Daldorph, Slaviero, Jopling and Choules*.
Choules won the toss and elected to bat. A few eyebrows were raised by some of the home spectators, perhaps it was a brave call for a newly promoted club against the 2015 Premier Division champions.
The top order stuck to the game plan as the opening pair put on 33 until Fielder was cruelly run out. Another 30 was added by Diamond and Chilcott until the latter was unlucky to be adjudged lbw.
Thors had the momentum from here as Van der Meulen (21) and Robbins (28) upped the scoring rate. At 154-4 and plenty of overs left, a good score was on the cards.
Unfortunately a small collapse ensued taking the score to 169-8. However a gritty 16 not out by Jopling, supported by Daldroph and latterly Choules secured a score of over 200 and 4 bonus points.
Torquay required 204 to win and Tim Western and Chris Kelmere seeked to take advantage of the powerplay for the hosts. However after a few overs each, Slaviero and Van der Meulen found their stride and stemmed the flow of runs. This was followed up by Daldorph and Jopling who both went at less than 4 an over.
Torquay always seemed up with the required rate but in a similar vein to Thorverton, lost a clump of wickets going from 150-5 to 166-8.
With the hosts’ overseas player, Jiniv Joshi, still in they had a good chance. Slaviero cleaned up the opposition number 10 with the score on 189 and it was too close to call.
The hosts required 15 runs and Thorverton required one wicket.
Joshi took the initiative as he clearly didn’t want to leave it to the number 11. He skied one off the bowling of Choules, it was agonisingly dropped on the rope and it continued over for 6. He quickly finished the game from there and Torquay had the win.
Thors came agonisingly close to starting off life in the A Division with a win but it wasn’t to be. The skipper remained proud of the team who showed a great account of themselves. The 8 bonus points may become very handy at the end of the season.
Thorverton Cricket Club 