The 1st XI for their final home of the season was: A. Pitt, B. Coe, B. Coetzee, B. Heard, H. Choules+, G. Daldorph, D. Robbins, B. Slaviero, A. Jopling, J. Choules*.
2nd place Bridestowe were the visitors and with some rain overnight, a delayed start meant the game was reduced to 40 overs per side. The skipper won the toss and elected to bat.
Pitt got the hosts off to a good side, making the most of anything too straight from Devon Lions bowler Ethan Guest, which included a well timed maximum through mid wicket. Opposition skipper Burns had more joy from the other end and kept things relatively tight. He had Pitt dropped at cover but eventually had his man LBW for 24 as the total reached 38-1 after the 8 over powerplay.
Coetzee joined Coe as the pair made the most of some looseners from the change bowlers before Coetzee was run out for 26 on the halfway mark. Thors 80-2.
Heard, promoted up the order, didn’t get much strike as Coe looked to increase the rate which was eventually his undoing when he fell for 42. Choules came and went for 5 as Bridestowe tightened things up. Daldorph unsurprisingly went hard from the outset and was supported by some positive strokeplay and running from Heard.
130-4 with 5 to go became 162-4 going into the final over as Daldorph found the boundary regularly. Heard was eventually given caught behind on the first ball of the final over for 23 then Robbins and Daldorph (33*) could only add a few more singles.
After tea, Slaviero got Thors off to a good start in front of numerous sponsors and VPs as he snicked off both openers, safely snaffled behind by Choules. Broom got in on the act when Heard took a smart grab at cover as Bridestowe stumbled to 12-3.
However, overseas player Glasgow and pro rugby player Billy Searle fought back for the visitors and found the boundary on a couple of occasions as the powerplay came to a close. The pair milked the change bowling of Choules and Robbins for plenty of singles with Searle in particular punishing any bad balls.
The score was 82-3 at halfway when Pitt and Jopling were introduced to attempt to break the partnership. The pair bowled well but the batters took few risks in reaching their half centuries – something Searle has done in every match he’s played this season.
Going into the last 10, the writing appeared to be on the wall for Thors until Slaviero was re-introduced for his final 3 overs and cleaned up Searle for 57. With 30 more required, Glasgow and Horn sensibly continued to accumulate and brought the scores level with 4 overs still to go.
There was still time for plenty of action though when Glasgow tried to finish in style but was caught at cover for 71 off of Choules. Jopling had his old club scampering for pads when Horn skied one then Penberthy picked out the skipper at cover. When Jops bowled Pengelly, he had a triple wicket maiden and Thors has taken an absurd 4 wickets while the scores were level.
It was captain V captain when Choules bowled the penultimate over to Burns who’s side were now 8 wickets down. The first ball was defended then the second, with a bit more flight, smashed agonisingly through the hands of short mid wicket for the winning runs.
Despite some late drama, Thors lose by 2 wickets with 10 balls to spare. However, we obtained 7 bonus points to keep us in the top half and guarantee A Division cricket next season.
Thanks to Bob Rice in the scorebox and all of the efforts to chip in for a mammoth Sponsors and VP’s tea.
Thorverton Cricket Club 