The 1st XI facing top of the table Tavistock at Station Ground was: A. Pitt, D. Robbins, L. Vukusic, S. Yelverton, H. Choules+, G. Daldorph, B. Heard, H. Squire, B. Slaviero, S. Tait, J. Choules*.
On his return from 2 weeks off, the skipper won the toss and elected to bowl. Slaviero and Daldorph took the new ball as usual as Sponsors and VPs began to filter into Station Ground.
Other than an early loosener punished by Billy Barriball, the pair kept things notoriously tight and beat the outside edge regularly. Barriball’s outside edge was found on a couple of occasions but the ball wasn’t carrying to the slips early on. After a pragmatic opening 10 overs the score was 23-0.
Daldorph got the breakthrough after the powerplay when he cleaned up Gray. At the other end, Barriball began to accelerate against the change bowling of Yelverton but progress was soon stalled when Daldorph got one to nip back to bowl overseas player Mupfuzda. Yelverton found his areas next over and removed Barriball for 29, safely caught behind by Choules. He had another in the same over to leave the visitors 58-4 at the 17 over drinks break.
The introduction of Robbins was rewarded after the break when dangerman Davies lost his balance and was well-stumped by Choules. Dangerous left hander Manning was still there but rode his luck with balls not quite going to hand and a few big appeals. When Yelverton scalped his 3rd at the Pavilion End though, Tavistock were under the cosh at 64-6.
Skipper Cleave was dogged from the outset as he sought to rebuild for his club alongside Manning. Just as frustration was setting in, a moment of magic from keeper Harry Choules finally removed opposite number Manning – with glove still on, Choules sprinted into the leg side and threw down the stumps at the bowlers end to leave Manning stranded. Cleave shut up shop even further from there leaving the visitors 82-7 at halfway.
The 8th wicket partnership was also frustrating until Heard got one to turn, finding Clarke’s outside edge, safely caught by Yelverton at slip. Jake Choules followed in Robbins’ footsteps by keeping things extremely tight at the River End and was eventually rewarded when Cleave (21 from 69) skied one. Slaviero cleaned things up with little fuss and the league leaders were bowled out for 125 in the 47th over.
Following a magnificent Heard tea, Pitt & Robbins sought a positive start. The former followed up an early scare with a well-timed cover drive to bring some entertainment to proceedings to the delight of the numerous TCC VIPS in attendance. Bariball’s second over was slapped for 19 with a boundary apiece for the openers and a 6 into the bank from Robbins, the bowler picking up a warning from umpires in the process.
The pair continued to tick things over, timing the ball well and running with purpose. Robbins brought up the 50 partnership with another powerful maximum before he was caught for a quickfire 26. It was 4 and out for Vukusic and at 56-2 the pressure could have mounted but Pitt and Yelverton continued the aggression – by 15 overs Thors had raced to 88-2 and were in control.
Yelverton, however, was bowled for 18 from one that kept a little low just before the 100 came up. Davies had another when Pitt (42) was caught in the deep but not before the opener struck a few more boundaries through square leg to bring Thors within touching distance of 20 points.
H. Choules and Daldorph had the awkward task chasing the final 15 runs but George was clearly in a rush. He flicked Davies for 4 first ball then moved across his stumps to spank 4 more. Choules had a boundary himself before George finished things off with a maximum over the road.
A commanding display against the league leaders still leaves Thors 3rd with 2 games to go. The top 2 play each other next week but with the gap still 27 points, promotion remains unlikely, although stranger things have happened…
Next week the 1s are home again for their final game at Station Ground. Any support would be gratefully received.
Thorverton Cricket Club 