Fresh from a defeat at the hands of Upottery on the opening day of the season, a much changed 2s embarked on the long journey to Barnstaple. Raleigh Meadow in contrast to last season’s encounter was bathed in sunshine.
Stand-in skipper Jack Stirling won the toss and elected to bat. There were seven changes to the XI, including 2s debuts for Danny Mead, Andy Davies and Dan Hawke. The line up for the visitors:- A.Daldorph, J.Meredith, D.Mead, A.Davies, P.Thomas, O.Coe, O.Hawke, C.Winzer, J.Stirling*, A.Gibbons, D.Hawke+.
Meredith & Daldorph opened proceedings with the latter back in the hutch in just the third over, adjudged LBW to Thomas for just 1. Veteran debutant Danny Mead joined Meredith and enjoyed some back of a length bowling to find the boundary on the pull a few times to help Thors reach 38-1 at the end of the powerplay.
Tom Poole was brought into the attack and struck immediately, Meredith unable to clear Tom’s brother James at extra cover. Andy Davies on debut joined Mead but only lasted 5 balls for his 1. 47-3 from 13.
Mead and Paul Thomas steadied the ship and started to look more comfortable on a pitch that offered much for the bowlers but plenty for the batters when the ball was pitched short. They took things through to drinks, 77-3.
Mead was bowled by Cole from the first ball after the drinks break for a well made 37. Olly Coe came and went in the same over, caught at cover for 0. 77-5.
A few extras and a second boundary from Thomas took the score to 86-5 before on the pull he chopped the ball onto the ground, then pad, then stumps. An unfortunate way to go for 10.
Winzer & Ollie Hawke both found boundaries before the latter was removed by James Roe for 6. Stirling was bowled first ball & Gibbons followed caught after also for 0. A single from the next over saw Thors whimper past the hundred mark, but when Roe had Winzer caught at slip in the following over, Thors had capitulated from 77-3 to 100 all out & Roe’s off-spin had completely cleaned up the tail, returning exceptional figures of 4 for 0.
After tea was taken, Gibbons and Coe took the new ball. Barnstaple got off to a reasonable start until Newton skied one off Gibbons who took the catch himself; 18-1. Holm and Poole took the hosts to 38-1 at the end of the powerplay.
Coe removed Poole with a full toss, gratefully snaffled by Danny Mead at mid-wicket, a deserved wicket for Coe who had beaten the edge of both batters on multiple occasions. Stirling replaced Gibbons and struck immediately to remove Holm LBW. 38-3.
The left arm of Andy Davies replaced Coe and he also struck straight away, Jimmer Thomas smacking a full toss straight down the throat of Meredith on the square leg boundary. 52-4 and things were starting to look a bit more in the balance.
Things looked even better for Thors when Stirling struck again, bowling Fewings for a duck. 53-5 and some unwelcome anxiety in the host’s dressing room.
Tapp & Roe took Davies third over for 12, before Tapp managed to find the safe hands of Andy Daldorph at long on. 75-6 after 18 overs and 26 still needed.
Cole & Roe batted more patiently than their teammates before them and some attritional cricket followed, Roe finding the boundary on a couple of occasions.. 85-6 at drinks.
With the game within one hit away for Barnstaple, skipper Stirling removed his opposite number Cole, LBW & finished his 9 overs with 3-15. Poole crashed one through the covers for 4 to take the hosts home. An entertaining game which looked all but over before the tea break.
The two defeats so far see the 2nd XI at the foot of the table with 9 points. Next up for the 2s is an eagerly anticipated derby against Shobrooke Park 1st XI on Saturday 18th.
Thorverton Cricket Club 