With the Choules brothers away for the weekend there were two changes to the 1st XI led by Ben Slaviero: L. Vukusic+, D. Robbins, A. Kingdon, S. Yelverton, A. Pitt, G. Daldorph, S. Jefferson, H. Squire, B. Slaviero*, A. Jopling, S. Tait.
Andy Kingdon was presented with his 1st XI cap having reached 5 DCL appearances this season.
The early forecasted rain avoided the Station Ground and, having won the toss, the visitors elected to take to the field – all be it with 10 players with one running late.
Openers Vukusic and Robbins started as they had last week, exploiting the powerplay and quick outfield to regularly send the ball to the fence. Harfords early short ball tactics were enjoyed by the pair and forced an early bowling change. Robbins was seeing the ball particularly well and muscled back-to-back boundaries off Last to take Thors to 40-0 from just 6 overs. He was dismissed the next over though, a skier excellently caught by Lipton running at full pace and clinging on over his shoulder.
Kingdon joined Vukusic and continued to put away the odd loose delivery from the Barton seamers. A brief rain break took an over off each innings and allowed the visitors to re-group. The introduction of Kamunhukamwe stemmed the flow of runs as the off-spinner quickly got into a consistent rhythm. He got his reward in the 17th over, bowling Vukusicfor a well made 32. Yelverton was then gone next over, carving one to backward point where it was well caught by Watkin, 72-3. Pitt and Kingdon began the rebuild, spin now in operation at both ends. The latter planted Bowker over top to bring up the 100 but it was Barton celebrating next as, on the stroke of drinks, Pitt skied Kamunhukamwe who safely took the catch off his own bowling. 104-4 at halfway.
Daldorph was next to the crease and he was quickly into his work, sweeping Bowker to the boundary on a couple of occasions as well as striking a sumptuous 6 over extra cover.
It was Kamunhukamwe who continued to keep Barton in the game though, trapping Kingdon LBW shouldering arms, gone for 29. 121-5 with the game in the balance.
Jefferson and Daldorph set about another rebuild for the home side, seeing off the last of Kamunhukamwe and sensibly knocking about the singles. It wasn’t too long before Daldorph began to show his attacking intent again, whipping Watkin over square leg for 6. Having played himself in Jefferson also started to find the boundary and the 200 came up with 6 overs to go. Disaster struck in the 44th though as a miscommunication resulted in Daldorph being run out, and Jefferson followed him 2 balls later pulling one to mid-wicket. Squire was next to go as he was trapped in front by new bowler Lipton and Thors had stumbled from 209-5 to 211-8, the hopes of full batting points all but gone. Slaviero and Jopling briefly steadied the ship, running well before Jopling was sharply caught behind after flashing at a wide one. Last man Tait continued to run well with the skipper who managed to plant a low full toss over the longest boundary to the joy of the home support. He was gone a few balls later going for another big shot but had contributed a useful 15 to leave Thors all out for 235 with 3 balls unused.
After a pleasant Vukusic tea, the home side took to the field as a growing number of supporters arrived, from club legends to the future generations of TCC.
They were treated just two balls in, as Slaviero clean bowled Last with an absolute peach. This brought overseas professional Kamunhukamwe to the crease and he was instantly on the offensive, trying to disrupt the lengths of Daldorph and Slaviero. The pair continued patiently though and Daldorph soon had his reward, 4 dots prompted Kamunhukamwe to try and go over the top, the catch easily taken by Pitt at mid-off. Watkin joined him in the clubhouse a few balls later, a rash swing across the line seeing Slavierouprooting his stumps, Barton reeling at 21-3.
Lipton and Parker were now at the crease and proceeded with more caution whilst also getting some luck with a few edges flying to the boundary. Yelverton replaced the skipper and struck in his first over, Lipton well caught by Jefferson at cover. Jopling also got in on the act in his first, bowling Parker looking for the big shot, 38-5. He had his second shortly after, Harford chipping a return catch, smartly taken diving forward.
Captain Lewis was now at the crease and bought some stability to the innings. It wasn’t long before the returning Slaviero had another though, Lipton hitting one straight to Squire at mid-off, 56-7. Jopling continued to keep it tight from the river end as Porter looked to pad out the spin and swing at the seam. Robbins was introduced after the drinks break and soon had Porter, another catch at mid-off for Squire.
Lewis started to open up a little and punished a couple of balls that were pulled short. New man Bowker didn’t last longthough, Robbins getting one to jag back to have him plumb in front, 98-9. Shelton was the last man in and batted sensibly with his captain as the score ticked over 100. It was the return of Daldorph that eventually wrapped things up, clean bowling Shelton to dismiss Barton for 113.
A comprehensive win for Thors, who picked up 19 points and remain 3rd in the A Division ladder. A big fixture next week with a visit Hatherleigh who currently 5 points ahead in 2nd.
Thorverton Cricket Club 