On the summer solstice, Thors travelled to Clyst St George to try and kickstart their Covid Cup campaign after last week’s narrow defeat to Bradninch.
With Jake Choules & Ben Slaviero unavailable, Dan Robbins took the captaincy, winning the toss on a warm, sunny evening and elected to field. Thors lined up with:- D.Robbins*, L.Vukusic, D.Baldock, J.Van Der Meulen, H.Choules+, G.Daldorph, Jack Baker, D.Hooper, E.Vukusic, A.Jopling, J.Stirling.
George Daldorph and Alex Jopling took the new pink ball for Thors and quickly looked to starve the hosts of runs. Daldorph bowled a tight first over at Donovan, conceding just four, followed up by a maiden from Jopling’s leg breaks. In the fourth over. Jopling was struck for two consecutive fours by Donovan, before bowling him for 18.
Manning & Kendall took 13 off Daldorph’s next over, before Jopling struck twice in three balls to remove Kendall (well caught by Luke Vukusic at extra cover) and Attwater, caught by Van Der Meulen at mid on. The hosts were 34-3 at the end of the 6 powerplay overs.
Erin Vukusic came into the attack, bowling tight lines and was unfortunate to concede two boundaries in her opening over. Jopling struck a fourth time to get Manning caught and bowled in his last over, returning impressive figures of 4-1-4-13.
The leg spin continued from the bottom end as Stirling replaced Jopling, removing Freddie Creer, caught behind with his first ball, the hosts 50-5. Bertie Creer (stumped well by Choules) & Ronaldo Callander (a well judging catch by Daldorph at backward point followed in Stirling’s next over to leave the visitors in a spot of bother at 59-7.
Hooper replaced Vukusic from the pavilion end and the incoming Steve Bourke went on the counter immediately, taking 14 off his first over, ably supported by Burrell. A couple of Bourke sixes into the neighbouring properties off Stirling’s last over and 16 off skipper Robbins first over brought Clyst right back into the game, Bourke adding 44 out of a 48 partnership.
After Stirling had bowled out (3-19), a change of ends for Hooper paid dividends, trapping Burrell in front at 107-8. Another 6 from Bourke brought up his 50, before he was bowled in the last over by Hooper for 56 from just 29 balls. Hooper rattled the stumps again 3 balls later to bowl the visitors out for 131; Hooper 3-24.
Robbins & L.Vukusic opened the reply with intent and consistently found the boundary, reaching 46-0 after the powerplay. Robbins then went up the gears, hitting Donovan for two consecutive sixes. He then planted Bertie Creer over square leg to bring up his 50, hitting his own car in the process.
In the same over he holed out to Bourke on the leg side boundary for 56 from just 27 balls, including six 4s and four 6s, Thors 78-1 after 8 overs.
Baldock joined Vukusic and the pair were happy to pick singles at ease, in addition to two consecutive 4s from Vukusic to take the score to 92-1 with 9 remaining.
Baldock was bowled by Callender for 9. Van Der Meulen in at 4 and he found the boundary a couple of times immediately. Thors taking 12 and 14 off the fifteenth and sixteenth overs, including a Vukusic 6 took the visitors close, before Van Der Meulen struck another 4 to secure the win with 23 balls remaining. Vukusic 33* (40) and Van Der Meulen 27* (12).
Next up in the Covid Cup is a home game against Exeter, scheduled for next Wednesday, although a fixture clash with the visitors Sun Belt Rentals Devon T20 fixture means this is almost certain to change.
Thorverton Cricket Club 