Under beautiful blue skies and the warm May sunshine, the Devon League got underway at Station Ground yesterday as the 2nd XI entertained Woodbury & Newton St Cyres 1st XI.
Thors lined up with Andy Daldorph, Ben Coe, Bobby Heard, Paul Stirling+, David Baldock, Nick Taverner, Jay Porter, James Meredith, Jimmy May, Jack Stirling*, Olly Coe.
The visitor’s skipper Nalin Chouhan won the toss and had showed no hesitation in electing to bat first with the wicket & outfield looking in pristine condition for early May. Olly Coe and Jay Porter formed the new ball partnership. W&NSC openers Purohit and Jackson took the game to the young opening pair and raced to a 50 partnership inside ten overs, taking advantage of the odd loose ball and gladly accepting a few extras.
A double bowling change in the form of Ben Coe’s medium pace and Bobby Heard’s off-spin was employed to counter the positive start and soon paid dividends with Purohit being bowled by Heard for 27. The bowling pair combined in the following over with Jackson cutting a rare loose ball from Coe to Heard at backward point, who pocketed a smart catch above his head to leave the visitors 62-2.
Jarman came to the crease with a considerable amount of intent and struck Coe for 4 before falling into the trap and slapping Heard down the ground to Daldorph at long on, who made a good deal of ground to take a tidy grab. Heard then trapped Edgehill in front just two balls later and suddenly the visitors found themselves 65-4. Coe and Heard kept plugging away and building pressure on Chouhan and Spurrell, which materialised in a running mix up which Olly Coe showed great composure at point to cooly find Paul Stirling and left him little to do behind the stumps. The pair bowled their allotted nine overs, Heard finishing with 3-24 and Coe 1-18, leaving the visitors at 91-5 after 26 overs.
Another double bowling change saw James Meredith and Jack Stirling keep it tight for the next four overs, with Stirling bowling his opposite number Chouhan for 26, then Moretta LBW for 0 three balls later. Martin Pearce brief 11 ball stint at the crease brought 16 runs before chipping Meredith to Taverner. The age-old superstition of Nelson had visited Station Ground and the batting side found themselves in a spot of bother at 111-8.
Becca Silk and keeper Chris Collyer added some resistance, sticking around for ten overs to frustrate Thors. Olly Coe returned to remove Silk for a well made 17, caught low down by Baldock at point. Collyer continued to frustrate the fielding side until the close of innings, surviving 67 balls for 29 not out. Olly Coe finished with 1-55, Meredith 1-33 and skipper Jack Stirling sent down his an economical 9 overs, 6 maidens, 2-9. W&NSC closed with a score of 164-9.
Daldorph and Coe opened up the Thors reply building a solid base of 35-0 after the first ten overs. The Woodbury opening pair of Pearce and Chouhan bowled tight lines but found the odd loose ball put away by a nonchalant Coe and an imperious Daldorph.
Coe struck the only 6 of the game off Chohan over deep square leg. The impressive Becca Silk offered some control with her off spin and had Daldorph caught and bowled down low with just her third ball, Daldorph departing for 17 from 41 balls. Heard joined Coe and the pair quietly went about their task, moving the score onto 98-1 at drinks.
After the drinks break, the pair attacked the change bowlers, with Coe bringing up his 50 in the 25th over. By now the pair had started to dominate the W&NSC attack; Coe commanding with drives, sweeps and cuts and an imposing Heard ably supporting him. The pair never looked troubled and cruised Thors to victory with over ten overs remaining. Coe finishing on a magnificent 85* from 110 balls, Heard cruelly just missing out on a half-century with 49* from 59.
Thanks to the friendly Woodbury & Newton St Cyres for playing the game in the right spirit, to Alan Birmingham for umpiring and Isaac May for scoring. Next up for Thors is a trip to Newton Poppleford to take on Sidmouth 3rd XI.
Thorverton Cricket Club 