Final pre-season preparations took a 1st XI to Bradninch and Kentisbeare CC on a perfect day for cricket.
There were welcome debuts for students Josh Jacobs and Jack Groves as the side lined up as: N. Buckeridge, A.Smerdon, O.Hawke, J.Jacobs+, F. Fenner, D.Baldock, A. Khogiani, B. Slaviero*, A. Jopling, J. Groves, S.Tait.
The home team won the toss and opted to bat, beginning cautiously against Slaviero and Khogiani. Slaviero, coming down the hill, was particularly impressive early on, testing the outside edge. The experienced duo of Chappell and Hardy soon settled though, and began targeting the shorter boundary taking B&K to 40 from 8 overs.
It was Slaviero who deservedly made the breakthrough, getting Hardy caught behind by Jacobs. New man Hard came to the crease and immediately looked to attack. Tait joined the attack and Slaviero was replaced by Jopling, who found some control. Chappell, remained steady, and he and Hard put on 40 before Jopling found the edge off Hard, with Jacobs again taking a sharp catch. At the halfway mark, B&K were 105-2.
Triner joined Chappell at the crease and was watchful early on with Jopling finishing a good spell of 1-30 off 8 overs. After drinks, Chappell upped the ante, taking on Groves and Tait, motoring on to a well-made 100 before retiring. Groves, though, was beginning to find his rhythm and soon had Triner chopping on for 20.
Laubscher and Badwal joined the fray, with Laubscher striking the ball cleanly through the covers, while Badwal targeted the leg side. The pair took the score over 200 before Groves struck again, finding the edge of Laubscher – Jacobs snaffling another good catch. Skipper Slaviero came back into the attack and knocked out Laubscher’s leg stump to leave B & K 209-5 with 5 overs to go.
Not content with three catches Jacobs was soon in on the act again, parrying a wide-ish delivery and throwing down the stumps at the non-striker’s end. B & K took the momentum into the break though as new man Brookes played a blinder, striking 47 from 15 balls, taking the total up to 280 at the end of 40 overs.
After a fantastic tea, Thorvy started the chase with Buckeridge and Smerdon taking to the crease, the latter with fond memories of a career-best 35 at this ground last year. However, disaster struck early. Buckeridge guiding one behind square and calling Smerdon through failing to remember his parter was twice his age – a despairing dive from the England international touch rugby player not enough to save him, 1-1.
Hawke joined Buckeridge who began to play with confidence against the pace of Triner and Laubscher finding the cover boundary with a couple of sumptuous drives. The pair ticked things over but the bowling and fielding remained tight. Hawke dispatched the new bowler Hard to the fence but was gone a few balls later, clean bowled. Buckeridge joined him a couple of overs later, trapped in front to leave the chase stumbling at 34-3 after 12.
It was down to Jacobs and Fenner to rebuild, and they did so well. Jacobs pounced on anything loose and took a liking to the slow left arm of Hard. Fenner also began to settle as the pair passed drinks and soon took the score over 100. Chappell brought himself into the attack and tied down and end but it didn’t stop Jacobs passing 50 with another powerful shot to the long on boundary.
He and Fenner targeted the bowling of Holding and both found the boundary regularly, but the overs continued to tick by with Ninch rotating their bowlers. Fenner passed his 50 with a six thanks to a tip over the boundary as the Thorvy pair started having some fun, each trying to outdo the other with striking down the ground.
As the score approached 200 the win was clearly out of reach but there was an outside chance of a ton on debut for Jacobs. This was dashed though, as one destined for a maximum was plucked brilliantly above his head by Badwal. Jacobs gone for a classy run-a-ball 82. Fenner followed suit on the first ball of the final over caught for a well-made 61. Khogiani launched his first ball into the field with one hand then ran himself out off the penultimate ball to make the captain come out for the final ball at the non-strikers.
Thors finished with a respectable 204-6. A very useful run out and great to welcome two new students to the club with Jacobs particularly impressing on debut.
The league begins next weekend with the 1st XI away to Bridestowe and Belstone CC.
Thorverton Cricket Club 