After 3 wins in a row, the sun threatened to come out at Station Ground as the 1s sought to make it 4 from 4.
The team consisted of only 2 players over 30 years old:
A.Pitt, L.Vukusic, S.Jefferson, J.Geraghty, H.Choules+, A.Chilcott, G.Daldorph, B.Heard, B.Slaviero, A.Jopling, J.Choules*.
Kilmington won the toss and elected to field as Vukusic and the returning Pitt opened up. The opening overs were quiet but the score ticked along thanks to some well run singles and extras. The first boundary came via Vukusic in the 6th over.
The Kilmington attack consisted of one medium pacer in Josh Cann and numerous spinners which were rotated from the outset. A steady start brought the total to 34-0 from the opening 10 overs.
The openers brought up their 50 partnership just before the first drinks break at 17 overs with Vukusic falling for a solid 23 just after the break. Pitt was next to go in the 20th over for 25 and at 60-2 the game remained in the balance.
Jefferson and Geraghty continued to tick things along as Station Ground filled with spectators ranging from ex captains to former overseas players to the chairman himself.
Geraghty went LBW for 12 just after the halfway mark as H. Choules joined Jefferson at 82-3. The latter fell for 19 in the 31st over as the total reached there figures.
Chilcott, in an unfamiliar number 6 position, ran well with Choules while his scones were creamed for him in the kitchen. Going into the last 10, the pair looked to increase the scoring rate, taking a liking to Cann in particular with a couple of comprehensive boundaries in the 41st over.
Kilmington showed why they are 2nd in the league though and loose balls were hard to come by, especially from the spinners. Going into the final 5 Thors were 146-5.
Chilly sweetly timed a straight drive for 6 into the sightscreen at the River End before Choules drove Seaward for 4 more. Chilcott (34) was caught thanks to an athletic grab by Crabb as Daldorph joined Choules for the final 2.
The pair took 9 and 13 runs from the last 2 overs respectively – Choules 46, Daldorph 10.
During the eating of a stupendous Chilcott tea it felt like a Thors had the momentum and their was an air confidence about defending 185.
Kilmington, as they have become known for, went hard from the off and put the pressure on the Thorvy openers. Slaviero had the most control with the wind and removed Rockett in the 5th over who picked out the skipper at mid wicket with a powerful pull shot.
This seemed to spur Gooding on to go even harder and with Aussie overseas Cucontis at the other end Kilmington reached 43-1 from 10.
The end of the powerplay brought about a double bowling change as Jopling and Choules were introduced. Jopling had dangerman Gooding in his 2nd over for 39 with assistance from Geraghty’s reliable bucket hands.
At the first drinks Kilmington had a solid base at 64-2 but the scoring rate had showed signs of slowing. When Reed took a liking to sweeping Choules, there was a change of ends for Jopling which allowed Daldorph to be re-introduced with the wind.
The batters struggled to score freely but did tick things over and would’ve had Thors worried at 102-2 at halfway. Jopling bowled Reed just after halfway, however, as Slaviero replaced Daldorph.
Cann and Cucontis set about the rebuild for the visitors but boundaries were hard to come by. With Jopling bowled out, Heard was introduced from the River End and Choules from the Pavilion. The pair continued to stem the flow but with the total at 131-3 with 20 to go, Killy remained strong favourites.
Heard, however, had other ideas. He had Cucontis caught behind for 39 in the 35th which triggered an almighty collapse for the visitors.
Seaward was next to go, bowled for 0 by Heard and at 146-5 Thors had a sniff. With pressure doing funny things, a phenomenal direct hit run out for Chilcott followed which brought about the biggest celebration of the day.
Choules was now bowled out but Heard had enough in the tank to finish from the River End whilst Slaviero and Daldorph could share the overs with the wind. Cann was still there for the hosts but the pressure was beginning to tell with more mix ups in the middle.
Heard was relentless in his areas and had his 3rd in the 44th over – then 4th and 5th in the 46th. His first 1st XI 5fa. Jopling’s catch out of the sun worthy of mention for the 4th.
Kilmington were all of a sudden 9 down with the total on 164. A boundary from Cann gave Thors a brief worry but it was only fitting that Heard removed him stumped next ball for his 6th. Kilmington all out for 171 and Thors win by 14.
Thors climb to 4th in the A Division going into the the final 2. Huge thanks to Jimmy and Isaac in the scorebox and all of our volunteers and supporters across the day. Another memorable day at Station Ground.
Thorverton Cricket Club 