The fifth edition of the Covid Cup got underway at home to Bradninch & Kentisbeare last night. After winning the competition for a third time in 2023, Thors were eager to build a solid start.
Ben Slaviero won the toss and elected to bat. Thors line-up:- B.Coe, B.Coetzee, H.Choules+, T.Byrne, A.Daldorph, G.Daldorph, A.Davies, B.Slaviero*, A.Jopling, J.Stirling, O.Coe.
Thors got off to a wobbly start with Yuvraj Singh bowling Coetzee in the first over & Craig Penberthy knocking over Ben Coe to leave the hosts 12-2 after two overs. Byrne soon followed with a looping catch to Tallan Burns who somehow caught the ball jumping behind his head at extra cover. 22-3 at the end of the powerplay.
Harry Choules and Andy Daldorph started the rebuild against the slower bowlers as Tallan Burns and Holding came into the attack & the runs started to flow much more easily. The pair managed to take Thors past three figures before Daldorph was bowled by Kian Burns for 41 from 40. In the midst of all this, visiting keeper Darren Paul managed to break a thumb which allowed time for Harry Choules to relieve himself behind the river end sightscreen.
Harry had managed 43 from 36 including a couple of maximums before he was smartly stumped by replacement keeper Marsh. George Daldorph departed for a duck.
Skipper Slaviero and Davies managed to find the boundary regularly in the final three overs, the latter mainly thanks to sweep shots off McQueenie & Holding to take Thors to a respectable 160-6, which had looked well out of the host’s reach at 20-3. Davies 22* from just ten balls.
Slaviero started the visitor’s chase with a maiden before Olly Coe removed Ross Acton for 6 in the second over, caught by Brendan Coetzee.
Slaviero then chucked down another maiden with two victims, both Kian Burns and Findlay bowled for ducks. 9-3 after three.
Tallan Burns then managed to sky one off Coe to George Daldorph at mid off. Craig Penberthy came and went, caught behind by Choules for 4 to give Coe a third wicket. Bradninch were 29-5 after the powerplay.
Stirling and Jopling came into the attack, the latter removing Marsh for 2. Stirling then bowled Bradninch’s scorer for 0 to leave the visitors on the brink at 43-7.
Yuvraj Singh farmer the strike and did hit the occasional boundary, but runs continued to be hard to come by. He was finally removed by Jopling, stumped Choules for 35 from 32. Jopling picked up a third, bowling Maddick. Despite hurting a finger and batting one handed, Holding was bowled for 9 by Ben Coe to wrap up proceedings. Bradninch & Kentisbeare all out for 72 & Singh being the only batter to make double figures.
Next up for Thors in the Covid Cup is a trip to Cullompton on Tuesday.
Thorverton Cricket Club 