On another scorcher, the 1st XI made the trip to Hatherleigh to face opponents who were playing in the Premier Division last season.
There were 4 changes to the XI for the 2nd week in a row with 15 year old Henry Squire making his debut. Team: A.Pitt, D.Robbins, B.Coe, J.Geraghty, H.Choules, G.Daldorph, H.Squire, B.Slaviero, A.Jopling, J.Choules, A.Gibbons.
Unlike last week, a coin was used for the toss and the skipper was back to winning ways, electing to bat.
Pitt struck a beautiful straight drive for four 3rd ball that rattled against the iconic white wall at Hatherleigh. Not to be outdone, Robbins also found the boundary on his 3rd ball faced.
The start was positive until Pitt was bowled for 10 in the 8th over. Next man in, Coe, also got off the mark with a boundary as the total reached 38-1 after the first PowerPlay.
Robbins looked to attack the change bowler striking two 6s in Jones’s first over. He fell for 29 shortly after, however, thanks to a sublime catch at first slip.
Coe and Aussie Jack Geraghty continued positively before Coe was bowled a couple of balls before the first drinks break – the score reaching 71-3.
Continuing the order of the day Harry Choules also got off the mark with a 4 before he and Jack ran between the wickets in their usual positive manner – despite one near miss.
Choules was next out just after the halfway point – 104-4. Jack struck the next over for 18 before becoming the latest victim in the 30th over, adjudged lbw for 40.
Henry Squire was unlucky to get an almost unplayable delivery from Charlie Presswell, ending his debut innings before it really got going for 2. Slaviero came and went for 4 as the total reached 155-7 with 14 to go.
Daldorph and Jopling calmed things down for Thors both striking maximums before Jops was eventually caught. The skipper didn’t last long and Daldorph went soon after looking to attack while we were 9 down.
TCC all out for 184 in the 44th over.
Following the well-renowned Hatherleigh tea, Slaviero was handed the new ball. If Thors felt we had a chance at tea, we certainly did when opener Presswell left a straight one – 0-1.
Following a Daldorph maiden, Slav struck again and the hosts were reeling at 4-2.
Hatherleigh overseas Rapulana sought to counter attack for the hosts as Daldorph was convinced he had him caught behind, the umpire was unmoved. Following a couple of boundaries, Daldorph had his man in his next over – this time the finger going up for an edge behind.
Heard and Davies calmed the game down for the hosts and by the time Daldroph and Slaverio had bowled 6 overs each the score was 51-3.
The skipper and Gibbons were introduced next. The former struggled to find his usual areas and took himself off for Jopling after just 2 overs.
Gibbons and Jopling kept things tight and after 20 overs the total was 70-3. With the visitors knowing we required wickets to win this one, Robbins was introduced for Gibbons at the concrete works end. However it was Jopling who took the next wicket as Heard found Geraghty at long on – 81-4.
Hatherleigh continued to tick things along, reaching 115-4 with 20 to go. The skipper rolled the dice, introducing strike bowlers Slaviero and Daldorph for a second spell. They couldn’t strike instantly, however, with the total reaching 128-4 at the final drinks break.
Choules bowled himself again after the break and whilst still pitching them too short, Davies skied one which was well caught by Daldorph at short mid wicket. Davies with a well made 63. Choules had a second last ball of the over thanks to sharp work behind the stumps by brother Harry.
With the hosts now 6 down, Thors went back to Daldorph and Slaviero going into the last 15.
The pair kept it tight meaning the required rate snuck up to 5 an over going into the last 10 and run rate was now a consideration as well as wickets.
Back into the attack, Robbins struck in the 41st over – 140-7. With Daldorph bowled out, Aussie Geraghty was now introduced – also striking in his first over – 146-8 with 8 to go.
Opposition skipper, Lake, played very calmly and sensibly ticking things along for his club. With 5 to go the situation was now 166-8, the pendulum perhaps swinging back in Hatherleigh’s favour.
A maiden from the Aussie followed before Slaverio finished his 10 overs – his final over going for 5.
The hosts required 14 from the final 3 overs but it was the penultimate over when things slipped away. Two edges from the Hatherleigh skipper found the boundary taking the equation to just 2 required from the last over.
Another edge on the second ball of the last sealed the win for Hatherleigh as the visitors pondered all the ifs, buts and maybes throughout the day. The most curucial probably being the failure to bat for 50 overs.
Choules debriefed:
“A fantastic game of cricket that I thought was played in a refreshingly good spirit. Ultimately we were 20 short with the bat but very proud of the efforts in the field to take it to the last over. George Daldorph in particular was fantastic with both bat and ball.”
The 1s slip down to 7th in the table ahead of the visit of newly promoted Clyst St George on Saturday.
Thorverton Cricket Club 