Following last week’s convincing win at home, an unchanged first XI travelled to Kilmington. Our hosts only lost for the first time this term 7 days earlier so a tough test was expected.
A heavy shower during the warm up left the skipper in a bit of a frenzy and he elected to bowl after winning the toss. An eyebrow raising decision at the high scoring ground.
By the time the game started the rain cleared and only a small bit of cloud cover remained for Slaviero and Daldorph to work with. With Gooding slapping a 4 through the covers in the first over, it looked like it could be hard work in the field.
However, despite the positive start from the hosts, Slaviero removed Gooding LBW for 14 in the 5th over. It was Daldorph’s turn the very next over – both openers now gone and the score at 29-2.
Jopling was introduced for Slaviero after the first powerplay and struck in his 2nd over, removing the opposition overseas Cucontis for 12. The total reaching 52-3 after 13.
Pitt replaced Daldorph from the pavilion end and the spin duo kept things tight up to the first drinks break with only 10 more runs being amassed.
The disciplined bowling allowed for some attacking fields to keep the batters guessing. Jopling struck again straight after drinks when Josh Cann found Geraghty at short cover before having an argument with his stumps.
Sensing blood the skipper introduced himself and removed Rockett caught and bowled almost instantly. The bowling pair continued to toil and at the halfway mark the score was 72-5.
Jopling had a deserved 3rd in his final over finishing with figures of 3-19 from his 10.
Slaviero was re-introduced as he and the skipper continued to keep things tight going into the final drinks break. Drinks brought about another wicket, Slav snicking off Crabb immediately afterwards – 90-7.
At drinks the skipper worked out that one over would be needed from a 6th bowler so Coe was introduced for an action packed over at the pavilion end. Left hander Joel Seward finding the boundary twice.
Pitt came on from the other end and struck the ball after he was hit for 6. The Kilmington plan appeared to be that Seaward would hang around and the tailenders would attack around him.
It appeared to be working as Kilmington started to amass a more defendable score and it wasn’t until the 48th over before Thors struck again- Jopling catching off of Slaviero.
9 runs came off the final over, Seaward passing his 50 in the meantime, Kilmington finishing on 169-9.
Pitt and Robbins didn’t hang around in getting to work as the Thors batters sought to benefit from the good batting conditions where their opposite numbers didn’t.
33 runs were taken from the first 3 overs. Pitt striking well off the back foot and Robbins dispatching anything over-pitched including a gargantuan 6 over the bowlers head into the nearby houses.
Kilmington switched to spin after just 5 overs and Crabb did pose a few problems but he wasn’t helped by 4 overthrows. Aussie overseas Cucontis couldn’t keep things as tight with Pitt in particular taking a liking to his tweakers.
Robbins despatched 2 more maximums before bringing up his 50 from 40 balls in the 14th over. It was 50 and out though as he missed out on a full toss – caught on the rope.
Chilly got off the mark with a boundary before Pitt fell in the 17th over for 35 – 104-2 and any pressure now very much eased.
Next man in Geraghty seemed to be in a rush to get back to the Lamb Inn and after having a look for 2 balls hit consecutive boundaries to get underway. He then rotated well with Chilcott, punishing any bad balls with some brutal 6s.
At the halfway point Thors only required 6 more to win – a brutal batting display. Jack tried to finish it in one hit and was caught for 49 before H Choules and Chilly were tasked with getting us over the line. The latter finishing with a nicely made 23 not out.
It was another convincing win for the 1s who seem to have found their stride this season. 4th place Thorverton go to bottom side Abbotskerswell next with last season’s 2 defeats to Abbots still fresh in minds.
Thorverton Cricket Club 