Week 3 in the 2022 DCL season and the 1st XI were still looking to get an elusive first win. Cricket at this level wasn’t about to get any easier as it was a trip to the County Ground to face city-side Exeter.
Thors made two changes as Chilcott was back in for the unavailable Hooper and George Daldorph replaced injured Slaviero.
Skipper Choules kept up his 100% toss record for the season and elected to bat.
Greed and Chilcott opened up and did well to negotiate some tricky spin bowling from Sam Read unscathed. The classy opening pair accumulated runs well reaching 75 before the first wicket fell in the 21st over.
Wickets then began to tumble thanks to some smart bowling from Jehan Daniel and Billy Buckingham. Given collapses in previous weeks, alarm bells set in with the score at 96-4. However, Diamond and Robbins had other ideas. Diamond worked hard to support an explosive counter attacking knock from Robbins. Dan scoring 58 from 48 balls including 4 sixes. By the time he was out the score was 196-5 with just over 3 overs to go.
A couple of blows from Pitt followed by some good running from Harry Choules and Diamond secured a total of 230-6. 6 runs of which were penalties due to the hosts’ slow over rate which wasn’t helped by their 56 extras.
After an enjoyable tea (and a quick trip to Shobrooke and back for Robbins), the new ball was handed to Daldorph and Van Der Meulen.
Harry Fisher in particular started positively for the city side but a smart piece of fielding from Greed saw the end of his opening partner who was run out. After the first powerplay Exeter were 45-1.
Robbins and Diamond were then introduced, the former picking up the wicket of Buckingham. Sam Read then made his way to the middle as he and Fisher looked to take the game away from Thorverton.
There was a good battle between the positive batting pair and spin duo Choules (3-46) and Jopling (3-39) with Jopling removing Fisher just after his half century with the score on 100. He picked up the number 5 shortly after and the game was in the balance but with Sam Read and Jehan Daniel in, the hosts would’ve felt in control.
Read despatched Choules for one the bigger sixes you’re likely to see this season but the skipper had his man caught at short third man soon after. He then removed Daniel thanks to a great catch from Diamond and with the score on 152-6 the pendulum may have swung Thorverton’s way again.
At this stage Robbins picked up a worrying injury diving for a ball on the boundary, dislocating his shoulder in the process. Exeter very sportingly allowed Thors to use a sub fielder and fittingly it was Imogen Daldorph of Exeter Ladies and Thorverton 2nds fame who was subbed on. Genuine thanks to Exeter for allowing this.
A period of tight and attritional league cricket followed with the hosts quietly accumulating and Thorverton picking up another couple of wickets.
As the County Ground filled with Thorverton supporters and the already-victorious 2nd XI, fielders and bowlers were given a real boost. 170-8 with 12 to go then.
Archie Spittles batted impressively and took the score past 200 with just over 5 to go. A couple more clean strikes from Spittles and the game was looking out of reach for Thors until Pitt took a very tidy caught and bowled to remove the danger man, rolling his ankle in the process.
Exeter’s final pair required 14 from the last 3 overs. Van der Meulen thought he had won it for Thors with a big LBW shout but it was turned down.
The ball was back with the injured Pitt, with the hosts now requiring 9 from 2 overs. Third ball into the over Harry Choules rapidly took the bails off as the batter’s foot was raised for a split second and up went the finger. Scenes ensued, a mix of relief and ecstasy in the Thorverton ranks.
Overall a fantastic game of cricket and it just felt that Thors needed it that bit more on the day. Kilmington at home next in the league as we will look to build some momentum. However there are no easy games in this division, particularly with an ever growing injury list.
Thorverton Cricket Club 