The 2nd XI welcomed top of the table Exeter 2nd XI to Station Ground for the second of their back-to-back home games. On another clear, warm and dry Saturday, Stirling lost the toss and Thors would be fielding first in the heat.
Thors line up:- A.Daldorph, J.Farley, S.Jefferson, L.Vukusic, P.Stirling+, J.Porter, G.Squire, B.Heard, A.Gibbons, E.Vukusic, J.Stirling*.
Gibbons & E.Vukusic took the new ball for the hosts & initially kept openers Wilkinson & Cockram quiet, before both batters settled, found some timing & the boundaries started to flow. Exeter 60-0 from 11 overs when the first bowling change was made with the off-spin of Heard replacing E.Vukusic.
L.Vukusic also replaced Gibbons & the pressure began to build slightly as runs started to become more of a challenge. 68-0 at drinks.
Luke struck first to remove Wilkinson who had looked comfortable for his 31 before Vukusic bowled him from around the wicket. Barnes came in at 3 but only lasted one ball, walking across his stumps to a full, straight one and getting wrapped on the pads. Aashey Dube joined Cockram with intent & comfortably saw at the hat trick ball. 72-2.
Dube & Cockram released some of the scoring pressure taking on Heard. Dube sent a free-hit off the off-spinner flying into the meadow from the other side of the square. Vukusic then had his third, bowling Cockram for a well-made 47. Dangerman Dube soon followed him, cutting Heard to Squire at point, who despite a few tumbles in the field, took a screamer running back behind him. 103-4.
Fradgeley came & went for 12 with Vukusic rattling the stumps once more. Unni suffered the same fate after making 17 & Luke Vukusic had changed the game with his maiden 5 wicket haul in any cricket – Exeter going from 72-0 to 136-6.
Stirling joined the attack from the River End & Gibbons returned for a second spell. Tipper was next to go, not before a friendly chat with the garrulous Porter at short cover; a flick off the legs produced another great catch by Squire at square leg.
Exeter skipper Williamson & Naj Choudary started the rebuild at 143-7, the latter playing & missing at 5 trademark Gibbons outswingers in a row. The pairing started with attrition but upped the ante in particular off the returning Erin Vukusic, bringing up the 50 partnership in 60 balls.
A solitary over from Sam Jefferson ended the innings with Williamson going past a deserved 50 & finishing on 62. A great recovery to 228-7 for the visitors & it had felt the pendulum had swung back in their favour.
After a great Meredith tea, Farley & Daldorph were tasked with seeing out the new ball pair of Dube & Fradegley. A spicy first over from Dube saw both batters wrapped on the glove from undoubtedly the quickest bowler in the division with a bit of extra bounce. Fradegley opened Exeter’s account in his first over, bowling Farley top of off.
Jefferson joined Daldorph at 1-1. The third over saw Daldorph cut the pace of Dube through the infield to the cover boundary four times. Jefferson & Daldorph both found the boundary consistently to take the hosts to an impressive 78-1 from the first ten overs.
Introducing Wilkinson & Tipper to the attack didn’t stem the flow as Thors raced to 112-1 at the first drinks break.
Unni & Gribble replaced them & the the theme continued. Jefferson was dropped by Choudary on 49 and ran through to pass 50 from just 40 balls. Daldorph was bowled by Unni for a well made 44 directly after his family entourage had arrived. 130-2.
Luke Vukusic joined Jefferson & ably supported him as the latter continued to pepper the boundary. He brought up his maiden hundred for the club with a cut for 2 in just the 27th over from 84 balls.
The pace of Dube returned and knocked over Luke Vukusic for 20 with the score on 202. Paul Stirling was in at 5 and hit a couple of boundaries before Jefferson hit the winning runs. Jefferson 126 not out from 101 balls, including an impressive 21 fours. Thors home with 12 and a half overs left.
Skipper Jack Stirling “A really enjoyable win & a couple of phenomenal individual performances to see us home. Jeffers was quality & entertaining with the bat. Fantastic to see Luke delivering with his bowling potential as he’s been threatened a performance like this for a few years. Great to see to of the younger players taking responsibility & delivering match winning performances.”
The win sees the 2s go third in the D Division East behind Barnstaple & Upottery ahead of the visit to fellow promotees Topsham St James on Saturday.
Thorverton Cricket Club 