The Covid Cup is back for 2023 as Thorverton, Bradninch & Kentisbeare, Exeter and Clyst St George battle it out in a T20 mini-league. The competition is looking to change its name, ideally to that if a sponsor, so if you are interested please get in touch.
The holders of the title, Thorverton, lined up for the first game against Bradninch at home with only 1 change from Saturday’s first XI.
Team:
A.Pitt, A.Chilcott, B.Wakeley, J.Geraghty, H.Choules, B.Coe, G.Daldorph, B.Slaviero, J.Broom, A.Jopling, J. Choules.
Josh Farley called correctly for the visitors and elected to bat. The usual new ball pairing of Slaviero and Daldorph got us underway at their usual ends, the latter removing Ross Acton in the 2nd over.
Shortly after, Slaverio was in on the act with a wicket maiden which included the wicket of Yuvraj Singh, caught behind.
Jopling replaced Daldorph for the last over of the 6 over Powerplay by which time the score reached 34-2.
Meanwhile Broom steamed in from the pavilion end as he tried to get back to fitness following his honeymoon. Both Jopling and Broom struck in their 2nd overs and the total moved on to 55-4 at halfway.
Opener Piper was still there and took a liking to Jake Choules who replaced a now pink looking Broom. Piper struck two maximums into the wheat field before Choules had him bowled a couple of balls later for 31. Choules then found himself on a hat trick after Badwal skied one first up and Billy Wakeley took an athletic catch. The hat trick ball was a tempter but Brooks kept his cool and kept it out.
Jopling’s last over of his allotted 4 went for only 3 before there was another expensive one off of Choules meaning a double bowling change was required.
Broom changed ends and Pitt took over from the Pavilion End. Sanders and Brooks started to look comfortable for the opposition, finding the boundary increasingly regularly.
Going into the final 3 overs, 127-6 was amassed in a solid Bradninch & Kentisbeare recovery. Slaverio and Daldorph closed out, both picking up wickets in their final spells as the total ended on 145-8.
Turning to the chase, Pitt took 8 off of the opening over from Ross Acton while Singh kept it tight from the other end for the visitors. Chilcott and Wakeley went in quick succession without troubling the score as Thors were in some bother at 21-2 after 4.
Pitt continued positively before falling LBW to the leg spin of Brooks for 22. Harry Choules joined Geraghty at the crease with the score on 41-3 from 7.
Josh Farley kept the pressure on by keeping things tight before Geraghty took a liking to Brooks. A maximum was followed by a four into the bank but as the Aussie went to go again he struck the ball into his ankle which then somehow found its way onto the stumps – 58-4 from 9.
Despite a nice flick off of his legs for 4, Coe couldn’t hang around long and at 76-5 the writing seemed to be on the wall.
Daldorph had joined H. Choules and they represented the last of the recognised batters – requiring 73 to win from just under 9 overs.
The pair that brought home the Corinthian Cup in 2022 got to work straight away with some quickly run singles. George in particular found some joy in the 13th over, taking it for 13.
Sensing a Thors resurgence at 87-5 the opposition skipper re-introduced himself and overseas star Singh to keep things tight. It seemed to work as only 8 runs came from the next 2 overs and Thors required exactly 10 an over from the final 5. However, Farley was now bowled out and Acton and Singh only had 1 over apiece remaining.
Thors struck 9 off the 16th over with Daldorph finding the boundary before Choules followed suit in the 17th, the pair taking Singh’s last over for 8.
34 runs were now required from the final 3 and things were really in the balance, albeit Thors still had a lot to do. A useful 4 leg byes, followed by some quick singles and another 4 from Choules brought 10 runs off the 18th over.
Acton was introduced for the penultimate over, with Bradninch & Kentisbeare seemingly wanting to take the the game away from Thors before the last. The hosts couldn’t muster a boundary from the over but some good connections from Daldorph allowed for a couple of 2s and a well run 3.
16 runs were needed to win from the last over with Choules on strike to Brooks. A single gave Daldorph the strike who wasn’t going to go down easily. He crunched 2 4s, piling the pressure back onto the bowler.
7 runs now needed from the last 3 balls. Daldorph made solid contact only for a sublime bit of fielding on the rope kept the ball inside. The fielding brought warm applause by spectators and even from within the Thors ranks. As it was, Thors now needed 5 from 2.
Daldorph was seeing it like a beach ball now but edged the next one. However the force behind the strike made sure it still found the boundary to bring the scores level, George passing his half century in the process. He showed no pressure on the last ball as the final run was comfortably secured past square leg.
Thors were off the mark in the Covid Cup defence. The match practice in a well fought game surely to pay dividends for both sides throughout the season.
A huge thank you to Bob Rice for scoring and Rich Lloyd for umpiring as well as their opposite numbers. Thanks also to our visitors and the numerous spectators that would have enjoyed a thrilling game.
The T20 XI will go to Clyst St George on Tuesday with a spring in their step.
Thorverton Cricket Club 