Premier Division high fliers Sandford stepped in at the last minute to give Thors a T20 fixture after Cullompton unfortunately pulled out – and any spectators would be glad Sandford stepped in as what followed was a thriller.
Thors lined up with: A.Pitt, L.Vukusic, B.Coetzee, G.Daldorph, H.Choules+, B.Heard, A.Khogiani, A.Smeardon, B.Slaviero*, A.Jopling, J.Choules.
The mid week skipper negotiated the toss without a coin being flipped for takeaway related reasons and Thors would be fielding first in the afternoon sun. The skipper kept things tight first over as Daldorph turned his arm over from the River End as he worked his way back to fitness following a side strain that has kept him from bowling for over a month now. Promoted up the order, Jamie Palmer found the gaps from the get go as Sandford sought to make the most of the early fielding restrictions. Devon keeper Adam Small got going third over, flashing hard into the offside and finding the boundary through point and third man.
After just 1 over, Daldorph was replaced by Vukusic but the Sandford openers continued the onslaught and were 62-0 after the 6 over powerplay. Khogiani replaced Slaviero at the Pavilion End and looked the most threatening when the pink ball jumped when bowled short of a length. Anything full, however, was despatched. He got the deserved breakthrough though when Small snicked through to Harry Choules.
Jopling replaced Vukusic and his first over was tight. It included the run out of overseas pro Larka at the non strikers end after dropping a Palmer drive onto the stumps. Khogiani kept things tight next over and Thors had pinned Sandford back to 76-2 from 9 in their best period with the ball.
Choules had the task of defending the short leg side boundary which Palmer continued to attack with success as he approached his half century – but eventually fell for a well made 48 from 34 balls when Daldorph caught him on the rope. By now left hander Prasian Alias who played a pre season game for Thors in April was scoring more freely too. He was joined by Ryan Glass as Sandford accelerated again – 138-3 from 14 overs.
Choules had a second next over when Alias skied one to Coetzee at long off for 36. Gidney joined Glass and the pair benefitted from an inexplicable 6 overs-throws as they continued to push hard for the visitors. Vukusic replaced Jopling at the River End and dealt with Gidney first ball but that only brought Lawrence Walker to the crease who was fresh off a century for the county. He got off the mark with a single before reversing one through point and hammering one over mid off. Sandford 187-4 with 2 to go.
Khogiani was tasked with finishing off at the Pavilion End but there was a brutal onslaught from Walker who smashed 2 into the (thankfully recently cut) wheat field. Khogiani had his man though when Daldorph pouched another. There was still chance for 2 more wickets in the all action over when Heard took a grab and Khogiani (4-31) cleaned up Jack James.
With Sandford 199-8 going into the last, Slaviero closed out almost perfectly as Glass took a single frost ball. Rhys James was bowled a couple of balls later and when Glass tried to get back on strike for the last ball by running a leg bye, Harry Choules picked the ball up and knocked the stumps over with a direct hit to end the Sandford innings exactly 200 all out with one ball unbowled.
Despite the short boundary and pinging pink ball, 10 an over felt a daunting chase for the hosts. The required rate instantly snuck up when Jeacock bowled a sharp and tight first over which only went for 2. Vukusic had other ideas though and timed the ball with perfection from the off to take Palmer for 13 from his first over.
Jeacock continued to be tough to put away but anything that did beat the inner ring flew away for 4 on the rapid Station Ground outfield. Pitt mainly dealt in singles in the early exchanges but with Vukusic already going well, the total reached 46-0 at the end of the powerplay.
After the powerplay, Pitt also got going as Larka, tasked with defending the short boundary, and youngster Sebi Gibbs felt the full force of the Thors openers. Vukusic brought up his 50 in just the 8th over when he struck the first maximum of the innings into the field. Thors 64-0 so still behind the rate, albeit going well.
The middle overs were some of Thors most brutal though as Vukusic in particular increasingly smashed the boundary including some beautiful straight shots – not just relying on the short boundary. The period included taking 15 from Alias’ first over and 19 from Larka’s third as we raced to 134-0 from 13 and were ahead of the rate for the first time.
Alias did trap Pitt LBW in his second, however, who had to go for 26 from 36 balls. Thors now 145-1 from 15 as Coetzee joined Vukusic with a licence. There were a couple more Vukusic boundaries as he entered the late 90s. The field came up and Jack James kept things tight to put pressure on Luke but eventually a misfield gave him and his teammates what they were desperate for as he lifted his lid and raised his bat for an incredible 100 from just 57 deliveries.
In all the excitement, the run rate had slowed then Coetzee was stumped for 1 trying to get things going again. At 157-2 with just 3 to go, any sensible money would have been on the Premier champions.
The nonchalant Daldorph presumably does not bet sensibly though and took a ridiculous 24 off the 18th over as he smashed Larka into the field 3 times, scrambled a 2 and struck a further boundary. An additional wide gave 25 from the over and now 19 were needed from the last 12 balls.
A well run 2 followed by a sensible single from the centurion gave Daldorph the strike against Alias who struck 4 more as if it is the easiest thing in the world. Another single, followed by a final boundary for Vukusic left 7 needed from the last over.
Jeacock, the most economical bowler of the night, was tasked with bowling it and it was a quiet start with just 2 singles from the first 2 balls. 5 from 4 required became 3 from 3 when Daldorph found the boundary rider but got back for 2. There was time for a bit of stress and panic in the hutch when Daldorph tried to scoop Jeacock over fielder-less fine leg but was caught by Walker behind the sticks. 3 runs from 2 balls needed as Harry Choules joined Vukusic. The delivery was slightly over-pitched and Choules was able to confidently drive through extra cover for 4 to give Thors a memorable win with a ball to spare.
Vukusic finished with a superb 115 not out to get Thors over the line, helped by a brutal 33 from just 13 balls by George Daldorph.
Huge thanks again to Sandford and their volunteers for getting a game on at short notice. Also to Keith Cudby for umpiring fresh from a long day helping on the ground.
Thorverton Cricket Club 