The already promoted second XI hosted relegation candidates Bradninch on Saturday in the knowledge that a single point would secure the E Division East league title.
Thors line up:- A.Daldorph, J.Farley, G.Greed, B.Coe, G.Squire, P.Stirling+, H.Squire, J.Meredith, J.Stirling*, J.Broom, I.Daldorph
Stirling won just his third toss of the year & elected to bat. Farley & Daldorph opened the batting looking to reach the 40 needed to become champions.
The pair negotiated the new ball in a controlled fashion and brought up the 40 runs needed to secure the Championship with 8 overs gone!
Farley & Daldorph continued the solid start past another batting point and then another, before Farley was bowled by Paul Nott for 40 after 125 opening stand. Daldorph followed soon after, bowled by Mark Perrott for 71, finishing the season as the Division’s leading run scorer with an incredible 775 runs to his name. Thors 134-2.
Coe came and went for 3, bowled by Chris Acton. Greed & G.Squire went after the Bradninch bowling, Greed passing 50 for the first time this campaign & Squire finishing on 44 not out. Thors finishing on 240-3.
After a Mrs Stirling tea, the Champions went out to field and struck in the first over, Broom nicking off the dangerous Nott, well taken by a diving Paul Stirling behind the stumps to leave Bradninch 1-1.
Thom Bunker played with some serious intent before Chris Acton coughed Imogen Daldorph to Jack Stirling at mid-on, who made a simple chance look slightly harder than it should’ve been.
Stirling made a double bowling change with himself and Coe into the attack. He struck with his third ball to remove Bunker, caught by Broom at long off. He then had Birley caught one handed by Coe in the gully and Bradninch were struggling at 52-4.
Coe got in on the act to remove Rhodes LBW for 6. Stirling then took a further three to complete his 5 wicket haul, Acton caught at long off in a carbon copy of Bunker’s dismissal, then bowling Reed and having Mills stumped by Paul Stirling & all of a sudden Bradninch were on the ropes at 79-8. Stirling removing himself from the attack with figures of 5-22 from 5 overs.
Shrewsbury & Perrott added some resistance before Meredith trapped in front leg before.
Henry Squire bowled well & was finally rewarded by bowling Josh Richards to complete an emphatic 122 run win.
Skipper Jack Stirling “I’m so, so proud of every single one of the players that has featured in the 2nd XI this year and we absolutely deserve to have won this league. There have been so many positives. I’ve run out of superlatives for Andy Daldorph with the bat and he deservedly tops the league batting charts. The continued involvement of juniors & girls in the second team has been great to see. We can definitely compete in the division above if we keep the bulk of this squad together and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.
One thing I must say is a sincere thank you to Alan Birmingham, Rich Lloyd & Bob Rice for their efforts umpiring and scoring this year, it has made my life so much easier; thank you so much.”
Thorverton Cricket Club 