Match report
The 1s were back at Station Ground and looking to get back to winning ways against bogey side Abbotskerswell.
There were 2 changes to the team: A.Pitt, D.Robbins, B.Coe, B.Coetzee, H.Choules+, M.Wilkinson, G.Greed, G.Daldorph, B.Slaviero, A.Jopling, J.Choules*.
Station Ground was looking like a postcard all week in the June sunshine but with grey clouds on the morning of the game, George Greed and young assistant Martha brought the covers on.
By the toss the sun was back out and Abbots somewhat surprisingly elected to bowl. They may have been regretful initially when Thors were 17-0 from the first 2 overs which included a 6 into the barley field from Robbins which meant a second new ball had to be used as a spare. He found the boundary again next over but came unstuck when he was given LBW in the 6th for 13. Pitt didn’t last much longer when he also fell LBW as Abbots began to rein Thors in at 27-2.
Brendan Coetzee timed his first ball to perfection with an on-drive for 4 to get off the mark. Following another boundary, he was also wrapped on the pad to give Abbots their 3rd of what would be 4 LBWs in the first innings as the total reached 44-3. Harry Choules joined veteran Ben Coe to set about the rebuild as the pair kept things calm until the first drinks break. They added 20 more before a mix up meant Coe was run out and it was looking like another one of those days against Abbotskerswell.
Things went from bad to worse when Mickey Wilkinson came and went and Choules snicked off for 10 as Thors found themselves 70-6. It was now time for Daldorph and Greed to start a rebuild which was looking promising as Abbots rotated their bowlers searching for wickets. The duo rotated the strike well and Daldorph found the boundary on a couple of occasions before being bowled for 13. The theme of quick wickets continued when Slaviero was eventually given LBW as the total reached a lowly 95-8.
Jopling and Greed made sure Thorverton passed the 100 mark before Jops was bowled for Nick Watkin’s 3rd wicket of the afternoon. When the skipper strolled in to meet Greed, the score was 106-9 with 20 overs remaining.
Greed began the partnership with a boundary as Choules set his stall out with plenty of defensive blocks at the other end. 5 overs later, the total had trickled along to 120-9. Choules had his first boundary in the 37th over when he squeezed one through point with the total looking more respectable over by over. At 141-9 with 10 to go, the 3rd batting point was now in site.
Abbots introduced teenage leg spinner Harrison who Greed took a liking to, despatching 13 from the over and moving into the 40s. Australian Hurse was then introduced which stemmed the flow again. There was time for the pair to hit another boundary each before Hurse bowled Greed for 48 in the 47th over. Greed and Choules (17*) had beaten the previous 1st XI tenth wicket stand record by 5 runs and given the hosts a sniff.
After a generous Robbins tea, Thors set about defending 163. Slaviero and Daldorph began from their usual ends and it only took Slavs 2 balls to make a mess of Hill’s stumps. Hard and McCarthy showed grit to rebuild for the visitors during a good battle between bat and ball where the outside edge was missed and the rare bad ball punished. 20-1 from 10.
The change bowling partnership of Robbins and Pitt got the game moving along again as Pitt struck twice in 2 balls in the 16th over much to the delight of his entourage supporting from the corner of the ground. There was time for Robbins to get in on the act before drinks when he cleaned up Hard for a resistant 20. Abbots 39-4 at drinks with Thors smelling blood.
They were made to work hard for the next wicket though as Tyler and Watkin rebuilt for the visitors. By now Jopling had replaced Pitt while Robbins kept things tight from the Pavilion End. He had his reward right on halfway when Tyler fell LBW. Quick wickets ensued again when Jopling bowled Charlie Smout-Cooper and Robbo removed Hurse. Abbots now in trouble at 76-7.
The determined Watkin was still there though and refused to make things easy for the hosts. In Robbins’ 10th and final over he had a deserved 4th when he bowled Inder Singh – 90-8.
Watkin, who had resigned as captain that week, continued to farm much of the strike and continued to slowly tick things along for his side. Jopling, Daldorph and the skipper all had a go at breaking the 9th wicket partnership but it took Slaviero’s reintroduction to get Thorverton over the line. Once he got Watkin for 35, it was a only matter of time before he got the final wicket – 4 balls to be precise. Abbots all out for 115 and Thors take 18 points.
Thanks to Jimmy May in the score box who then hot footed it to the bar, then BBQ to facilitate iPod Shuffle Night. Thanks also to the numerous spectators throughout the day who made every wicket a buzz for the team.
Thors move back up to joint 2nd in the very congested A Division table after a 1 week hiatus in 4th. It’s back to back away games again next as we visit Hatherleigh followed by Bridestowe who currently have the same amount of points as Thors.
Thorverton Cricket Club 