There were 5 changes for the 1s following the abandonment at Tavistock last week. Team: L.Vukusic, D.Robbins, B.Coe, S.Yelverton, H.Choules+, G.Daldorph, D.Baldock, S.Jefferson, B.Slaviero, S.Tait, J.Choules*.
Amongst a heatwave, the rain still managed to find Torquay in the morning as the teams arrived. The weather cleared up by the time of the toss when Choules elected to field. The Torquay openers started aggressively to make the skipper question his decision with Kelmere in particular finding the boundary regularly. Daldorph attempted to put the opener off his stride with a bouncer but that was comprehensively pulled for a maximum over deep square leg. Next ball, however, with a new ball, Kelmere attempted another hook which was cooly claimed behind by Harry Choules.
Never to be outdone, Slaviero got his first a couple of overs later when overseas player Roux looped one to the safe hands of compatriot Stu Tait. Slavs had another inside the powerplay when he swiftly cleaned up Passenger. Torquay 47-3 after 10.
The end of the powerplay brought a flurry of wickets when Daldorph struck 2 in 2 and wasn’t a million miles away with the hat-trick ball. Yelverton, replacing Slaviero, struck first ball to get opener Western via a snick behind as Torquay were suddenly 57-6.
Hunt and Baxendale rebuilt for the hosts until the skipper joined the attack and removed Hunt from his second ball. By halfway the hosts were 97-7 which became 110-8 when Slaverio replaced Robbins. Then when Choules had his second Torquay seemed to be on the brink at 113-9.
The last wicket partnership proved extremely stubborn with Baxendale and number 11 Dabhade showing no signs of rolling over. Thors rotated the bowling but despite some close calls including a dropped chance and a rapid bouncer from Daldorph couldn’t make the breakthrough. Baxendale passed his half century which was followed by the 50 partnership as the total passed 150. Eventually Robbins had Baxendale (55) with a couple of overs to go to leave Thors needing a reasonable 187 to win.
Robbins and Vukusic started the chase solidly, punishing early looseners and
making the most of the early extras. Robbins set the tone with a crunching cover drive and a 6 over the duck pond as the 50 partnership came up within 7 overs and Torquay’s stubborn 10th wicket partnership was almost instantly cancelled out. Robbins (37) had to go next over when he was given LBW but not before another maximum.
Incoming Coe did well to rotate the strike with Vukusic despite carrying an injury as Thors reached 72-1 after 10. Vukusic took a liking to the change bowling, particularly the spin of Passenger, as the pair continued to accumulate. Baxendale and Kelmere tightened things up for their team but Thors showed patience, reaching 93-1 after 20.
Coe got the total over 3 figures before being caught for a patient 8 from 53 balls. At the other end, Vukusic looked more and more comfortable, scoring from most balls and punishing any width with ease as he passed a well deserved half century. It only took Yelverton a couple of overs to get his eye in as he pumped a 4 followed by a maximum in the 26th as the visitors moved within 60 runs.
The pair sensibly moved towards the target with no real chances given. Yelverton would’ve been frustrated to eventually fall for 45 with his team 10 short of the total, but Harry Choules got straight to work with a crunching cover drive. Fittingly, Vukusic (77*) finished it with two boundaries as Thors win by 7 wickets with 9 and a half overs to spare.
Thors move back up to 4th in the table with back to back home games next, starting with Kilmington on Saturday.
Thorverton Cricket Club 