With the Wombat T20 Cup and Covid Cup mini league looming, Thors sought to arrange a t20 friendly. Huge thanks to Sandford and our grounds team for getting the game on at short notice as the original fixture due to be played at Cullompton couldn’t be fulfilled.
Following numerous changes throughout the week as Thors felt the effect of hard outfields, we lined up with:
D.Robbins, G.Greed, J.Geraghty, D.Baldock, G. Daldorph, J.Porter+, B.Slaverio, A.Jopling, E.Heard, S.Tait, J.Choules*.
The skipper was running late so Slaverio tossed and Sandford elected to bat.
The familiar new ball pairing of Slaverio and Daldorph got us underway as Sandford openers and overseas pro Negi looked to make the most of the opening powerplay.
They reached 20-0 after 3 before Daldorph had Glass caught behind for 9 in the 4th.
Negi started to take a liking to the short leg side boundary and took a solitary Tait over for 15. It was already starting to appear that the only threat to Negi was a run out as there were a few mix ups in the middle. Eventually a smart pick up and direct hit from brief Sandford player Greed had Ward run out.
Negi was still there though and finding the boundary regularly, passing 50 in the process. A positive at this stage was seeing Robbins with ball back in hand after an injury lay off, and he did find Negi’s edge on one occasion.
The next wicket didn’t come until after halfway when Choules had Gray stumped for 6- the score 121-3 after 12.
Grieve ably supported Negi for the visitors as the latter reached his century off of a mere 55 balls.
Eliza Heard tied up the river end for the remainder of the innings and was unlucky not to have a wicket when one was put down in the deep. Thors rotated the bowling from the pavilion end as we attempted to keep the rate under 10 an over. Eventually Daldorph had Negi caught on the fence but the damage had been done – 117 from 60 balls.
There was a run out from Porter and wickets for Slaverio and Robbins before the close as Sandford finished on a more than significant 206–7.
Robbins wasted no time pummelling the first ball of the reply for 6 before a lower keeping ball had his stumps dislodged.
Greed and Geraghty kept us up with the required rate for the first 4 overs before Greed fell in the 5th with the score 41-2.
Baldock came in with intent and after the 1st powerplay we remained up with the rate. However the fall of Baldock’s wicket and end of the powerplay slowed things down somewhat.
Daldorph supported Jack well in the next phase including a fantastic pull shot that reached the rope in no time. However, when he came and went Jay Porter represented the last of the recognised batters.
After a tricky start, Porter found the fence 6th ball as the score reached 99-4 with 8 to go.
Jay and Jack ticked things along nicely, the latter passing 50 whilst teammates wondered if he’d ever get out this season. A mix up in the middle saw to that as Jack was run out for 52 from 34 balls.
Porter went on to make the second top score of 20 before being bowled. There was a flurry from Jopling (15*) and a cameo for Eliza Heard before the innings closed on 133-7.
An entertaining game that would’ve been enjoyed by the numerous spectators in the evening sun. Pasty and chips were enjoyed by both sides post match – thanks to Alex Jopling. Thank you also to AB for umpiring both ends and Louise James for scoring.
Thorverton Cricket Club 