Following last week’s comfortable win at home to Woodbury & NSC, the 2nd XI took the trip to Newton Poppleford to take on Sidmouth 3rd XI.
Saj Patidar won the toss for the hosts and elected to bat. Thors made three changes with the following taking to the field:- J.Farley, A.Daldorph, B.Coe, P.Stirling+, D.Baldock, G.Squire, G.Daldorph, B.Heard, J.Meredith, S.Tait, J.Stirling*
A new ball combination of George Daldorph and Stuart Tait was employed and made a promising start with Daldorph striking the top of middle stump to remove Pugsley with just the fourth ball of the game. Both our openers kept things tight until the left-handed Lewis at three for the hosts decided to counter-attack with intent after being dropped twice, taking the hosts to 56-1 after the first ten overs.
Heard and Coe were introduced to the attack, with Heard removing Cox LBW. Lewis brought up his 50 before chipping a caught and bowled back to Heard with the score on 77-3. Heard impressively took a two further wickets, including a second caught and bowled to remove the experienced Patidar, finishing with 4-27. Coe got in on the act taking 1-31.
The spin combination of skipper Jack Stirling and James Meredith quickly mopped up the tail taking a pair of wickets each. The hosts were bowled out for 128 after 34.3 overs.
After an eventful tea which included four unprepared players having to share a solitary fork, Farley and Daldorph got us underway in the chase. Thanks to a few extras and some dismissive shots from Daldorph, we found ourselves 27-0 after three overs, before Farley was bowled by left armer Lewis for 2. Coe had a brief stay at number three, before gloving a ball that leapt off the pitch through to Goodwin behind the stumps.
Paul Stirling joined Daldorph at the crease, just as his new girlfriend had just arrived. Impressively, the first two balls he faced consisted of being clean bowled by a no ball, then getting hit in the unmentionables trying to strike the resulting free hit to neighbouring Tipton St John. A lengthy time was spent on the deck, accompanied by a chorus of unsympathetic laughter from fielders & team mates on the sidelines. His day didn’t get much better when he was smartly caught by Patidar at slip for just 5, leaving Thors 47-3.
Daldorph was bowled by Hodgson for a well made 25 and Grant Squire followed for 1 shortly after to leave us in a state of bother at 73-5.
The experienced Baldock counter attacked with a quick fire 22 including four boundaries, before managing to dispatch a log-hop from young spinner Hext straight down the throat of deep square-leg. The youthful partnership of Bobby Heard and George Daldorph shored things up for Thors and saw us home, Daldorph finishing 30* from 30 balls; as the clock struck just 5pm, Heard ended the game with a 6 over deep backward square-leg to finish with a run a ball 12. Thors returned to watch the first XI with 20 points and leaves us second in the league, a point behind early league leaders Topsham St James.
Thank you to Alan Birmingham for umpiring and Bob Rice for scoring.
Next up is the visit of Braunton 2nd XI on Saturday.
Thorverton Cricket Club 