The headline game in the A Division was at Station Ground as the 3rd placed 1s faced top of the tree North Devon. Thors were unbeaten at home whist North Devon hadn’t lost at all since round 1.
There were 3 changes from the side that beat Bridestowe including a debut for 16 year old Jack Baker. The line up: A.Pitt, B.Coe, B.Coetzee, J.Baker, H.Choules+, G.Daldorph, B.Heard, H.Squire, B.Slaviero, A.Jopling, J.Choules.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bowl, no doubt backing themselves to chase any total following a mammoth chase of over 350 at Kilmington a few weeks ago. North opened up with the medium pace of Popham and spin of Tyson with the pair both instantly looking hard to get away. Coe attempted to drive a rare loose ball but found himself caught at point on the first ball of the 3rd over. The rest of the over was more fruitful for Thors thanks to a couple of extras and Coetzee getting off the mark with a well timed straight drive for 4.
The South African and Pitt looked comfortable rotating the strike for a few overs before a couple of maidens put the pressure back on the hosts. When Coetzee was bowled in the 8th the total was 15-2. Baker looked comfortable on debut until a mix up meant he was run out without scoring and North Devon had won the opening powerplay with the score 16-3.
Harry Choules also got off the mark with a boundary which was followed by 2 4s in an over from Pitt to bring the total into the 30s. But Thors couldn’t relax for long as Choules picked out the boundary rider after a rare loose ball from Tyson. Things looked like they could get embarrassing for the hosts from here when Pitt (16) was done by the swing of Atkinson who then cleaned up Heard with the ball of the day. Thors 36-6 with new bats Daldorph and Squire at the crease.
A boundary from George that rattled into a stone wall seemed to reduce the amount the ball was swinging and the pair were able to rotate the strike with relative ease. They passed the first batting point with a well run 2 and enforced some bowling changes for the hosts. Daldorph began to find the boundary more regularly with some well timed drives as the score reached 78-6 with 20 overs still to bowl.
Squire was eventually caught for a patient 16 from 53 balls when he also picked out the boundary rider from a loose ball. With 17 overs still to bowl, the skipper moved himself up the order but he and Daldorph could only add 4 more before Choules was out LBW. Thors 87-8.
Slaviero batted with patience while Daldorph increased the rate as the total reached 3 figures, George passing a well deserved half century in the process. With 10 overs to go, Slaviero was undone trying to increase the rate. Jopling managed a boundary before being caught by a sharp grab at slip as Thors found themselves 120 all out with over 6 overs unbowled.
The teams shared a fantastic Pitt tea with the 2s fixture at Instow streamed onto the screen in the clubhouse. With Daldorph still struggling with a side strain, Pitt was chosen to open up with Slaviero and Thors were rewarded when King picked out the skipper at short mid wicket in the 4th.
The early wicket only brought the league’s leading run scorer, Jack Moore, to the crease though who looked instantly comfortable. He and Bowser put the pressure back on the bowlers which resulted in a double bowling change with the score 52-1 from just 7 overs.
Choules and Squire kept things tight which was rewarded when Bowser (20) picked out Slaviero, again at short mid wicket, off of the skipper. Moore and incoming Whittaker rotated the strike well from the off with the left hand / right hand partnership making things hard work for the hosts.
With the score 93-2 at the first drinks break, the writing appeared to be on the wall although there was time for one more scalp when Slaviero bowled Whittaker right after drinks. Moore then took it upon himself to finish things off, striking a couple of maximums into the road on his way to 61 not out from 47 balls as North Devon got over the line by 7 wickets.
With only 3 bonus points awarded, Thors slipped down to 5th in the table at the halfway stage. The heavy defeats at Torquay and home to North Devon significantly impacting the bonus points columns. Next week the 1s are home again as city side Plymouth (4th) come to Station Ground.
Thorverton Cricket Club 