Despite the best efforts of the weather, the 1st XI made the short trip to Knightshayes to take on Premier Division Tiverton Heathcoat in a 40 over pre season fixture.
The bowler heavy side was as follows; D.Robbins, B.Coe, B.Coetzee, H.Choules+, D.Baldock, G.Daldorph, B.Slaviero, A.Jopling, J.Broom, J.Choules*, O.Coe.
After winning the toss, Choules unsurprisingly elected to bowl in the grey and damp conditions. Slaviero & Daldorph opened up showing very little rustiness, causing instant problems for the Heathcoat top order.
It was Slaviero that struck first, removing the opposition skipper for 0 with thanks to Coetzee’s safe hands in the covers which would have removed any of the South African’s nerves on his debut.
Not to be outdone, Daldorph snicked off the other opener, safely caught by H. Choules. With the hosts 2 down in the first powerplay, Choules opted for an early bowling change as Broom and Jopling were introduced and both also struck early. Drew hit a maximum over square leg but Jopling had his man a few balls later whilst Broom ensured Chilcott and Dixon missed straight ones. Jopling picked up his second when he bowled opposition keeper, Reed, for 1.
With the hosts 33-6 from 16 overs, the bowling was changed again as the skipper introduced himself and youngster Olly Coe. The hosts began a useful rebuild from here and at the halfway point the score reached 45-6.
After the pair bowled 5 wicketless overs apiece, the 7th and 8th bowlers of the day were brought on in Robbins and Coetzee.
Heathcoat attempted to increase the rate going into the latter overs but wickets began to tumble again once Robbins bowled Stoneman for a useful 21. Coetzee removed top scorer Parkinson for 32 thanks to a sharp take down the leg side by Harry Choules.
Coetzee and Slaviero took the final 2 Heathcoat wickets as the hosts ended on 111AO.
Robbins and Coe began the chase as openers Drew and Hancock tried to make things difficult. However the pair battled to see off the openers, the latter of which has experience playing for the county.
Coe went soon after though for a patient 10 from 50 balls with the score on 26. Coetzee hung around for a few overs without scoring until he was unfortunate to find the fielder attempting to dispatch a long hop. Robbins kept the score moving along but H. Choules also fell LBW for 0.
41-3 became 45-4 when top scorer Robbins was caught for 30 and the bowling heavy Thors line up found themselves in some bother. Baldock relieved some pressure by striking 15 but when he and Daldorph went with the total only on 58 the writing seemed to be on the wall.
The tail had other ideas though as Slaviero & Jopling brought the score to 69 before Jops was caught. The next partnership proved to be the most vital as Broom and Slaviero took the game to Heathcoat by running hard and dispatching any loose balls. Most notably Broom found the longest boundary when he dispatched a full toss for 6.
Unfortunately the pair couldn’t finish the job as Hancock was reintroduced into the attack, cleaning up Slaviero who had made a very helpful 17.
With Thors needing 12 more and Heathcoat needing 2 wickets it was time for the skipper to join Broom. The duo rotated the strike a few times before we saw one of the more bizarre incidents we are likely to witness this season. Hancock cleaned Broom up but clipped the non-strikers end stumps as he bowled meaning it was a no ball. He bowled Broom again on the free hit but Thorverton still managed to take a single.
The target was now within one strike which Broom surely would have been eyeing up. However, Hancock did the work for Thorverton by spraying 5 wides down the leg side – an anticlimactic end given the previous drama.
A useful pre season run out ends in a 2 wicket win for Thors who travel to Bradninch on Tuesday for one more run out before the Devon League commences.
Thorverton Cricket Club 