On another scorcher of a Saturday, Thors welcomed Sidmouth 3rd XI to Station Ground. In a tradition now dating back over two months, Stirling lost the toss and Sidmouth elected to bowl, much to be bemusement of some of Thors’ senior players.
The 2s lined up:- L.Vukusic, A.Daldorph, B.Heard, D.Baldock, S.Jefferson, P.Stirling+, J.Porter, J.Broom, E.Vukusic, J.Baker, J.Stirling*
Chapman’s decision to field first started to look to be the right call, as Vukusic was quickly out for 1, caught at extra cover off a leading edge. The return of Heard didn’t last much longer as he nicked behind for 0. Thors 15-2 in just the third over.
Baldock joined Daldorph and began to pepper the boundary immediately. He narrowly missed the head of short extra cover with without doubt the hardest hit off drive the E Division will have seen this season. Baldock found the boundary six times in his 28 ball stay at the crease before he begrudgingly departed, adjudged LBW for 28 with Thors 49-3 after 11.
Sam Jefferson joined Daldorph in the sunshine & the 4 wicket pair rebuilt the Thors innings with Daldorph in particular finding the boundary regularly with ease & passing 50 for the fourth time this term. The pair added 120 between them in 21 overs before Jefferson was caught for 34 with the score on 169-4. Daldorph immediately followed him, smacking a full toss straight to deep midwicket for a well made 86, taking him to 450 league runs for the season.
Stirling & Porter added 57 between them including a big six for Paul over long on into the newly harvested rapeseed field at the River End before he was caught behind for 25. Broom was elevated again with a license to swing and delivered with 17* off 12 balls. Porter finished 39* for the second week running & Thors had taken full batting points, posting 257-6, which a couple at teatime thinking was a few short on a splendid PJ deck & a rapid outfield.
After a fantastic Tammi Vukusic tea which came close to replicating Jesus’ miracle of feeding the 5000, Broom & E.Vukusic took the new ball, choosing their ends perfectly as a slight breeze complimented Jacob’s outswingers & Erin’s trademark inswingers.
Vukusic was rewarded in her first over, knocking over Goodall’s stumps for 1. The bowlers toiled away in the heat to keep things tight; Sidmouth 27-1 after the first ten.
Stirling replaced Broom at the Pavilion End before the first of the two drinks breaks. Baker came on for Vukusic, finishing her first spell with 1-20 from 7 overs but deserving of more as she consistently found severe lateral movement.
Rattenbury was the next batter to go, well run out by some smart work by Jefferson at midwicket. Anthony Cox quietly started to add runs at a decent rate with some aggressive running. Burhop at 4 fell to Stirling, caught by the ever-dependable Daldorph running around at mid-on, the visitors 60-3 after 17.
Cox passed 50 before being bowled by Stirling for 53 from 65. Skipper Chapman soon followed him, bowled by Baker for 11, muttering some expletives on the way off at the surprise of how unplayable the ball of Baker’s left-arm spin had castled him. Sidmouth 100-5.
Dalton gave Stirling a third wicket, caught by Broom at mid off. Stirling finishing his 9 with 3-36. A change of ends for Baker allowed Heard a pop from the River End, bowling Clayden for 12. Jefferson removed Pugsley with another run out and the visitors were on the brink at 140-8.
Baker finished his spell with 1-43. Vukusic returned with another two tight overs before Broom came back from the Pavilion End. Jefferson came into the attack from the River End and immediately bowled Raistrick for 15.
Manav Singh had some fun on his way to 36, hitting Broom over the ropes, before he gloves behind to Paul Stirling twice in an over, with the second one sticking in the gloves to give Thors all 20 points. Sidmouth 192 all out.
The win sees Thors remain 20 points clear of second placed Topsham and 36 clear of third placed Honiton, with key fixtures against them within the next three weeks.
Thors skipper Jack Stirling “Another good performance despite some drops in the field. Andy Daldorph was outstanding once again and Erin was deserving of far more with the ball. Great to see Sam & Jay hitting some form at a key part of the season. We’ve just got to keep our heads and keep doing what we’ve been doing over the next seven weeks & we’ll get to where we need to be”.
Next up for the 2s is a trip to Braunton on Saturday 23rd July.
Thorverton Cricket Club 