Thors welcomed Exeter to Station Ground on Wednesday night, needing a win to keep any hopes of retaining the Covid Cup alive following a defeat in the return fixture.
Slaviero won the toss & elected to bat. Thors line up:- A.Pitt, J.Van Der Meulen, J.Geraghty, H.Choules+, S.Jefferson, J.Porter, B.Heard, S.Yelverton, B.Slaviero*, S.Tait, J.Stirling
Pitt & Van Der Meulen, the latter making his first appearance for the hosts since last season, opened things up. A tight first over from the off-spin of Sam Read & a couple of Van Der Meulen fours off Dube opened Thors account before Pitt mistimed one to Unni at mid on to give Dube & Exeter their first wicket.
Van Der Meulen followed immediately after, a smart stumping by Tojy off Read to depart for 11. Thors 13-2.
Geraghty & Choules set about the rebuild, with Exeter’s first change bowlers of Buckingham & Unni keeping the scoring down. The Australian was the next to go, unable to clear long off & departing for 13 from 16. 30-3 at the end of the powerplay.
Jefferson joined Choules and the pair ran well & found the boundary at regular intervals. The pairing hung around for 8 overs, taking the score to a more respectable 99 from 14 overs when Choules was bowled by Lewis-Oliver for a run-a-ball 34.
Porter the next man in, found the boundary a couple of times before feathering Buckingham behind for 10 from 9. 112-5 with four left.
Jefferson departed for 35 from 31, bowled Dube, with 15 balls remaining in the innings & the score on 134. Heard & Yelverton saw things through to the end of the innings, Heard providing a reverse scoop for four during his 13 from 12. The hosts finishing on 150-6.
Cockram & Joseph opened the response for the County Grounders, up against the Southern Hemisphere pairing of Slaviero & Yelverton. the former was unlucky to have Cockram put down by Heard in his third over as the hosts got to 30-0 in the first 5 overs.
Stirling was the first bowling change & struck immediately to bowl Cockram for 18. Tait was introduced from the pavilion end and kept things tight.
Felix was next to go, trying to sweep Stirling & getting struck on the back leg in front for 17. Exeter 46-2 after 8. The incoming Fradgley came & went after his leg stump was knocked back by Tait for 1.
The visitors had reached 60-3 at the halfway mark, needing 91 from the last ten overs. Yelverton then plucked an unbelievable diving catch off Tait to remove Lawrence for 12. Stirling finished his allocation with 2-24 & was replaced by Heard.
Tait had a third wicket in the twelfth over, Unni cutting him straight to Pitt at backward point to leave the visitors struggling at 71-5 with eight to go, Tait finishing his four overs with 3-17. Yelverton replaced him & had his first Thorverton wicket since his last appearance in 2019, Tojy flashing at a wide one and through to Choules behind the stumps.
Read smashed Heard down the throat of Van Der Meulen at long on to leave the score on 89-7 with 26 balls left. A carbon copy wicket from the same pair removed Dube for 4, before Heard trapped Buckingham in front without scoring to leave Exeter on the brink at 100-9.
Lewis-Oliver & Neary stuck around before rbe former was stumped off the last ball of the innings. Exeter 112ao and Heard finishing with 4-18.
Thanks to Alan Birmingham for umpiring & Bob Rice for scoring. The next T20 sees Thors visit Bradninch & Kentisbeare on Tuesday.
Thorverton Cricket Club 