Sam Jefferson was presented with the Energy Systems SW Player of the Month Award for June 2023. The cricket committee chose Jeffers for his 126* against Exeter 2nd XI.
Jeffers match-winning 126* against Exeter came off 101 balls & included 21 fours.
A very belated Energy Systems SW Ltd Player of the Month for May was presented last night, Andy Daldorph the recipient for this 147* against Feniton.
In 8 league appearances so far this term, Andy has amassed 341 runs at an average of 48.71.
The 2nd XI travelled to the University Ground to take on fellow 2022 promotees Topsham St James as the DCL season reached the halfway point.
For the second week in a row, Jack Stirling lost the toss & Thors would be fielding first. The 2nd XI lineup:- L.Vukusic, A.Daldorph, H.Squire, D.Baldock, P.Stirling+, J.Baker, J.Porter, B.Heard, A.Gibbons, J.Stirling, E.Vukusic.
Gibbons & E.Vukusic started the game quietly bowling to the opening pair of Sapwell & Wardell. The openers ran some good singles and crept their way towards a 50 opening stand.
Heard & L.Vukusic came on in a double bowling change which paid off immediately with Wardell smashing a full toss from Heard down L.Vukusic’s throat at deep-midwicket. 50-1. New man Perry followed shortly after as the roles were reversed, Vukusic finding some extra bounce to square the batter up & the ball looped up to Heard in the gully.
Croxall hung around with Sapwell as the hosts meandered to 86-1 at drinks. Sapwell followed immediately after the break, captain Stirling with some sharp turn & bounce finding the good hands of Baldock at slip via the Topsham captain’s glove.
Heard had a second when Croxall spooned him to Henry Squire at cover, before finishing with figures of 2-36. Topsham 105-4.
The wickets tally went up before the run tally as Stirling (3-26) was chipped by Jenkins to Daldorph at mid-on. Incoming Smalley did the same to Porter at extra cover & Topsham were struggling at 110-6.
Luke Vukusic returned & broke the eccentric resistance of Ahmadzai who chipped him to J.Stirling at mid off. Two balls later he clean bowled Armstrong without troubling the scorers, finishing with 3-42. Topsham 131-8.
Khalid Khan joined the determined Williams but only lasted 7 balls before skying the returning Erin Vukusic to P.Stirling for 11. Last man Smalley had his stumps rearranged by Henry Squire’s first ball of the match & Topsham were all out for 155.
Luke Vukusic & Andy Daldorph opened the reply & Thors got off to a flier taking 70 off the first ten overs, mainly thanks to a stream of Vukusic boundaries, ably supported by Daldorph who was taking a rare supporting role.
The score reached 71 as Vukusic brought up his half-century, but departed straight after, chopping on to J.Smalley. Vukusic’s impressive 50 from 39 balls with 9 fours and a six. Daldorph then departed on the same total, patting spinner Wardell back into his hands. 72-2.
Thors then looked to have instigated a collapse as Wardell bowled Squire without scoring.
A patient Paul Stirling assisted the more freescoring Baldock to take the momentum back towards the visitors. The latter found the boundary at regular intervals.
Stirling then departed, caught at slip for a watchful 5 from 35. Baker assumed his supporting role as Baldock passed 50 for the second time this term.
Baker was bowled for 7 with the scores level, before Baldock hit the winning runs, finishing 67* from 51 balls, with nine fours & two maximums.
The result sees the 2nd XI move to the summit of the D Division East by one point at the halfway point of the season. Thors travel to take on Upottery next who sit 5th in the table but just 5 points behind in a congested league table.
Thors were back in Covid Cup action on Tuesday night, taking on Exeter at the County Ground in a prelude to the A Division clash between the two sides this weekend.
Slaviero called wrongly at the toss & Exeter skipper Billy Buckingham elected to bat. Thors line up:- D.Robbins, G.Greed, B.Wakeley, J.Geraghty, H.Choules+, L.Vukusic, G.Daldorph, B.Slaviero*, J.Broom, J.Stirling, A.Jopling.
The youthful opening pair of Gribble & Cockram saw out a quiet first over from Slaviero with the new pink ball, before beginning to find some timing from Daldorph’s first over from the pavilion end. With the score 32-0 from 4, Broom & Jopling were brought into the attack, Broom conceding 14 from his first over; Jopling hit for four fours by a keenly sweep-heavy Cockram in his; 63-0 at the end of the first powerplay.
Gribble departed the first ball after the powerplay – with fine leg up, the scoop was brought into play, but the opener failed to execute and was bowled leg stump by Broom for 27 from 17.
Felix Joseph joined Cockram, the latter hitting the first maximum of the night in the gap between the pavilion & Squash Club which sent Geraghty as the unfortunate chase down down Prince of Wales Road. 76-1 after seven.
The double leg-spin pairing of Stirling & the returning Jopling was introduced and added some control. Cockram went past 50 before slapping a sweep down the throat of Billy Wakeley at deep square (51 from 37). Stirling then bowled Joseph for 15 in the same over. Exeter 103-3 from twelve.
Wakeley took over from Jopling, conceding 10 from his first. New man Dube then struck Stirling over long on for six; Stirling finishing with 2-19 from his four overs. Dube & partner Paget went on the attack, taking 20 from Wakeley’s second over. 140-3 with five to go.
Jopling (1-34), returning for his third spell of the evening removed Dube caught by Geraghty at long on for 31 from 18.
The opening pair of Slaviero (0-26) & Daldorph (1-24) returned for the last 4 overs, only conceding 22 in the process. A direct hit by Geraghty to remove Paget & another catch for the overseas to remove skipper Buckingham off the bowling of Daldorph saw the innings close at 164-7.
After a quick turnaround, Robbins & Greed opened the reply, but Thors were soon in trouble at 1-2 after the left arm inswing of Dominic Morgan bowled both Greed & Wakeley for 0.
Robbins & Geraghty began the rebuild with a handful of boundaries taking the visitors to 28-2 from four. Robbins then struck the largest maximum of the night straight back over Dube’s head. Buckingham came into the attack & immediately removed Geraghty for 17; the Aussie trying to cut a ball despite being cramped for room & the ball thundering back into his legs. 42-3.
Choules joined Robbins & the boundaries were swapped for some good running, taking the total up to 80-3 at the halfway mark.
Robbins hit a third maximum of the night & a few singles later went past 50, before hitting his next ball down the throat of Morgan off the bowling of Cockram; Robbins 50 from 36.
A spell of aggressive running from the incoming Vukusic & Harry continued to keep the board ticking over before Vukusic walked past a Cockram delivery & was stumped by Paget for 12. 16 overs gone, 122-5 and Thors needing 43 from 24 balls.
Choules & Daldorph managed 9 from the Jarman bowled 17th over to leave the equation at 34 needed from 18. A tight over next from Morgan saw only three runs conceded & both Choules (34 from 38) and Slaviero gone first ball. 134-7.
The last two overs only saw 6 runs scored but Daldorph gone for 3 and Broom gone first ball. Morgan (4-14) only conceded one from the last; skipper Buckingham the other pick of the bowlers with 3-15. Thors 24 short and left stewing over a few drops in the field which may have changed the game in their favour.
Next up in the Covid Cup is a trip to Bradninch & Kentisbeare on Tuesday 4th July.
As Dan’s Coast-2-Coast Challenge on 3rd & 4th August gets closer & closer, we are seeking ‘shirt sponsors’ for the whites Dan will be sporting as he walks 60 miles from North Devon Cricket Club to Exmouth Cricket club within a twenty-four hour period – all whilst wearing full whites & fully padded up in batting equipment.
Dan is aiming to raise £2000 to go towards Thorverton Cricket Club’s running costs & pavilion replacement project.
For a donation, Dan will be happy to put your businesses logo on the cricket shirt he will be wearing throughout the walk, which will be custom-made via his cricket company, Cavok Cricket for the challenge.
If you would like to donate & have your business’s logo on Dan’s shirt – please donate by visiting his GoFundMe Page HERE.
If you would like to have your logo on Dan’s shirt, please e-mail seniors@thorvertoncricketclub.com once you have donated.
Please do support Dan by donating if you are able, even if you aren’t looking to sponsor his shirt.
For full details on Dan’s Coast-2-Coast Challenge, please visit his GoFundMe page or visit HERE.
The 2nd XI welcomed top of the table Exeter 2nd XI to Station Ground for the second of their back-to-back home games. On another clear, warm and dry Saturday, Stirling lost the toss and Thors would be fielding first in the heat.
Thors line up:- A.Daldorph, J.Farley, S.Jefferson, L.Vukusic, P.Stirling+, J.Porter, G.Squire, B.Heard, A.Gibbons, E.Vukusic, J.Stirling*.
Gibbons & E.Vukusic took the new ball for the hosts & initially kept openers Wilkinson & Cockram quiet, before both batters settled, found some timing & the boundaries started to flow. Exeter 60-0 from 11 overs when the first bowling change was made with the off-spin of Heard replacing E.Vukusic.
L.Vukusic also replaced Gibbons & the pressure began to build slightly as runs started to become more of a challenge. 68-0 at drinks.
Luke struck first to remove Wilkinson who had looked comfortable for his 31 before Vukusic bowled him from around the wicket. Barnes came in at 3 but only lasted one ball, walking across his stumps to a full, straight one and getting wrapped on the pads. Aashey Dube joined Cockram with intent & comfortably saw at the hat trick ball. 72-2.
Dube & Cockram released some of the scoring pressure taking on Heard. Dube sent a free-hit off the off-spinner flying into the meadow from the other side of the square. Vukusic then had his third, bowling Cockram for a well-made 47. Dangerman Dube soon followed him, cutting Heard to Squire at point, who despite a few tumbles in the field, took a screamer running back behind him. 103-4.
Fradgeley came & went for 12 with Vukusic rattling the stumps once more. Unni suffered the same fate after making 17 & Luke Vukusic had changed the game with his maiden 5 wicket haul in any cricket – Exeter going from 72-0 to 136-6.
Stirling joined the attack from the River End & Gibbons returned for a second spell. Tipper was next to go, not before a friendly chat with the garrulous Porter at short cover; a flick off the legs produced another great catch by Squire at square leg.
Exeter skipper Williamson & Naj Choudary started the rebuild at 143-7, the latter playing & missing at 5 trademark Gibbons outswingers in a row. The pairing started with attrition but upped the ante in particular off the returning Erin Vukusic, bringing up the 50 partnership in 60 balls.
A solitary over from Sam Jefferson ended the innings with Williamson going past a deserved 50 & finishing on 62. A great recovery to 228-7 for the visitors & it had felt the pendulum had swung back in their favour.
After a great Meredith tea, Farley & Daldorph were tasked with seeing out the new ball pair of Dube & Fradegley. A spicy first over from Dube saw both batters wrapped on the glove from undoubtedly the quickest bowler in the division with a bit of extra bounce. Fradegley opened Exeter’s account in his first over, bowling Farley top of off.
Jefferson joined Daldorph at 1-1. The third over saw Daldorph cut the pace of Dube through the infield to the cover boundary four times. Jefferson & Daldorph both found the boundary consistently to take the hosts to an impressive 78-1 from the first ten overs.
Introducing Wilkinson & Tipper to the attack didn’t stem the flow as Thors raced to 112-1 at the first drinks break.
Unni & Gribble replaced them & the the theme continued. Jefferson was dropped by Choudary on 49 and ran through to pass 50 from just 40 balls. Daldorph was bowled by Unni for a well made 44 directly after his family entourage had arrived. 130-2.
Luke Vukusic joined Jefferson & ably supported him as the latter continued to pepper the boundary. He brought up his maiden hundred for the club with a cut for 2 in just the 27th over from 84 balls.
The pace of Dube returned and knocked over Luke Vukusic for 20 with the score on 202. Paul Stirling was in at 5 and hit a couple of boundaries before Jefferson hit the winning runs. Jefferson 126 not out from 101 balls, including an impressive 21 fours. Thors home with 12 and a half overs left.
Skipper Jack Stirling “A really enjoyable win & a couple of phenomenal individual performances to see us home. Jeffers was quality & entertaining with the bat. Fantastic to see Luke delivering with his bowling potential as he’s been threatened a performance like this for a few years. Great to see to of the younger players taking responsibility & delivering match winning performances.”
The win sees the 2s go third in the D Division East behind Barnstaple & Upottery ahead of the visit to fellow promotees Topsham St James on Saturday.
The sun was out and an unchanged 1st XI made it to Abbotskerswell hoping to make it 3 wins from 3.
After his customary toss win the skipper elected to bat. Things started badly when a half hearted appeal had Pitt given caught behind down the leg side off of Hussain.
Hussain in particular got the ball to spit and move off of the pitch on what looked to be a difficult batting track, much to the amusement of some.
Robbins and Chilcott appeared to have weathered the early storm, however, finding the boundary regularly off of the other opener, James Tyler. This was until Hussain found Chilly’s edge.
Robbins continued positively and after the first Powerplay the score reached 53-2. The hosts struck again immediately after when Robbins went LBW for 38.
Another rebuild was in order as Geraghty and H. Choules batted sensibly on the increasingly difficult wicket. They turned the strike over well and were aided by a few extras from the hosts.
The pair put on 50 as the score reached 102-3 until Choules holed out to mid off and then Daldorph went the very next ball. The balance tipping back into Abbots favour just as Thors were looking to take charge.
Things went from bad to worse when Geraghty was 6 and out the next over – caught behind trying to cut.
Wickets fell at regular intervals from here, Ben Coe the only batter to show some resistance with a patient 16 not out. He ran out of partners though and Thors were 142 all out – 8 short of a 3rd batting point.
After tea, the usual opening bowling pair of Slaviero and Daldorph got to work and their pace had the pitch looking even more tricky. Balls spat off of good lengths and jagged in all directions, at times even the fielders were concerned for the batters welfare. The opening pair wore it well for the hosts though, particularly Aussie overseas Jack Neylon despite some loose shots on occasions that on another day may have found the outside edge.
Slaverio eventually had a wicket in the 9th over, catching and bowling Hard for 1 off of 22 balls.
The Abbots skipper entered the middle for the hosts and he and Neylon continued to be patient, wearing a few where necessary. They had a bit more joy from the change bowling partnership of Jopling and Pitt, finding the boundary on a couple of occasions.
At the first drinks the score was 68-1 and Thors had a lot to do. The skipper introduced himself and kept things generally tight whilst a change of ends for Daldroph, also keeping things tight, brought about a good but almost fruitless spell for the visitors.
Daldorph eventually had a deserved wicket at around the halfway point with the score on 87-2, removing Watkin with a jaffa. He also went close to removing the Aussie, the closest being a decent LBW shout on the back leg.
Once Daldorph was bowled out there was a burst from Slaviero but in the meantime Neylon found the boundary a couple of times off of Choules, passing his 50 as the total reached 116-2.
Wakeley was then introduced for his first spell for the club and showed some encouraging turn with an attacking field. Jopling had a wicket in his first over back thanks to a stunning grab by Harry Choules, one handed.
The key man, Neylon, was still there though and it was a matter of time before he got his team over the line.
Thors well beaten and slip from 4th to 6th in the 10 team table. It’s 2 home games next against city sides Exeter (top) and Plymouth (5th).
Following last week’s convincing win at home, an unchanged first XI travelled to Kilmington. Our hosts only lost for the first time this term 7 days earlier so a tough test was expected.
A heavy shower during the warm up left the skipper in a bit of a frenzy and he elected to bowl after winning the toss. An eyebrow raising decision at the high scoring ground.
By the time the game started the rain cleared and only a small bit of cloud cover remained for Slaviero and Daldorph to work with. With Gooding slapping a 4 through the covers in the first over, it looked like it could be hard work in the field.
However, despite the positive start from the hosts, Slaviero removed Gooding LBW for 14 in the 5th over. It was Daldorph’s turn the very next over – both openers now gone and the score at 29-2.
Jopling was introduced for Slaviero after the first powerplay and struck in his 2nd over, removing the opposition overseas Cucontis for 12. The total reaching 52-3 after 13.
Pitt replaced Daldorph from the pavilion end and the spin duo kept things tight up to the first drinks break with only 10 more runs being amassed.
The disciplined bowling allowed for some attacking fields to keep the batters guessing. Jopling struck again straight after drinks when Josh Cann found Geraghty at short cover before having an argument with his stumps.
Sensing blood the skipper introduced himself and removed Rockett caught and bowled almost instantly. The bowling pair continued to toil and at the halfway mark the score was 72-5.
Jopling had a deserved 3rd in his final over finishing with figures of 3-19 from his 10.
Slaviero was re-introduced as he and the skipper continued to keep things tight going into the final drinks break. Drinks brought about another wicket, Slav snicking off Crabb immediately afterwards – 90-7.
At drinks the skipper worked out that one over would be needed from a 6th bowler so Coe was introduced for an action packed over at the pavilion end. Left hander Joel Seward finding the boundary twice.
Pitt came on from the other end and struck the ball after he was hit for 6. The Kilmington plan appeared to be that Seaward would hang around and the tailenders would attack around him.
It appeared to be working as Kilmington started to amass a more defendable score and it wasn’t until the 48th over before Thors struck again- Jopling catching off of Slaviero.
9 runs came off the final over, Seaward passing his 50 in the meantime, Kilmington finishing on 169-9.
Pitt and Robbins didn’t hang around in getting to work as the Thors batters sought to benefit from the good batting conditions where their opposite numbers didn’t.
33 runs were taken from the first 3 overs. Pitt striking well off the back foot and Robbins dispatching anything over-pitched including a gargantuan 6 over the bowlers head into the nearby houses.
Kilmington switched to spin after just 5 overs and Crabb did pose a few problems but he wasn’t helped by 4 overthrows. Aussie overseas Cucontis couldn’t keep things as tight with Pitt in particular taking a liking to his tweakers.
Robbins despatched 2 more maximums before bringing up his 50 from 40 balls in the 14th over. It was 50 and out though as he missed out on a full toss – caught on the rope.
Chilly got off the mark with a boundary before Pitt fell in the 17th over for 35 – 104-2 and any pressure now very much eased.
Next man in Geraghty seemed to be in a rush to get back to the Lamb Inn and after having a look for 2 balls hit consecutive boundaries to get underway. He then rotated well with Chilcott, punishing any bad balls with some brutal 6s.
At the halfway point Thors only required 6 more to win – a brutal batting display. Jack tried to finish it in one hit and was caught for 49 before H Choules and Chilly were tasked with getting us over the line. The latter finishing with a nicely made 23 not out.
It was another convincing win for the 1s who seem to have found their stride this season. 4th place Thorverton go to bottom side Abbotskerswell next with last season’s 2 defeats to Abbots still fresh in minds.
The Covid Cup is back for 2023 as Thorverton, Bradninch & Kentisbeare, Exeter and Clyst St George battle it out in a T20 mini-league. The competition is looking to change its name, ideally to that if a sponsor, so if you are interested please get in touch.
The holders of the title, Thorverton, lined up for the first game against Bradninch at home with only 1 change from Saturday’s first XI.
Team:
A.Pitt, A.Chilcott, B.Wakeley, J.Geraghty, H.Choules, B.Coe, G.Daldorph, B.Slaviero, J.Broom, A.Jopling, J. Choules.
Josh Farley called correctly for the visitors and elected to bat. The usual new ball pairing of Slaviero and Daldorph got us underway at their usual ends, the latter removing Ross Acton in the 2nd over.
Shortly after, Slaverio was in on the act with a wicket maiden which included the wicket of Yuvraj Singh, caught behind.
Jopling replaced Daldorph for the last over of the 6 over Powerplay by which time the score reached 34-2.
Meanwhile Broom steamed in from the pavilion end as he tried to get back to fitness following his honeymoon. Both Jopling and Broom struck in their 2nd overs and the total moved on to 55-4 at halfway.
Opener Piper was still there and took a liking to Jake Choules who replaced a now pink looking Broom. Piper struck two maximums into the wheat field before Choules had him bowled a couple of balls later for 31. Choules then found himself on a hat trick after Badwal skied one first up and Billy Wakeley took an athletic catch. The hat trick ball was a tempter but Brooks kept his cool and kept it out.
Jopling’s last over of his allotted 4 went for only 3 before there was another expensive one off of Choules meaning a double bowling change was required.
Broom changed ends and Pitt took over from the Pavilion End. Sanders and Brooks started to look comfortable for the opposition, finding the boundary increasingly regularly.
Going into the final 3 overs, 127-6 was amassed in a solid Bradninch & Kentisbeare recovery. Slaverio and Daldorph closed out, both picking up wickets in their final spells as the total ended on 145-8.
Turning to the chase, Pitt took 8 off of the opening over from Ross Acton while Singh kept it tight from the other end for the visitors. Chilcott and Wakeley went in quick succession without troubling the score as Thors were in some bother at 21-2 after 4.
Pitt continued positively before falling LBW to the leg spin of Brooks for 22. Harry Choules joined Geraghty at the crease with the score on 41-3 from 7.
Josh Farley kept the pressure on by keeping things tight before Geraghty took a liking to Brooks. A maximum was followed by a four into the bank but as the Aussie went to go again he struck the ball into his ankle which then somehow found its way onto the stumps – 58-4 from 9.
Despite a nice flick off of his legs for 4, Coe couldn’t hang around long and at 76-5 the writing seemed to be on the wall.
Daldorph had joined H. Choules and they represented the last of the recognised batters – requiring 73 to win from just under 9 overs.
The pair that brought home the Corinthian Cup in 2022 got to work straight away with some quickly run singles. George in particular found some joy in the 13th over, taking it for 13.
Sensing a Thors resurgence at 87-5 the opposition skipper re-introduced himself and overseas star Singh to keep things tight. It seemed to work as only 8 runs came from the next 2 overs and Thors required exactly 10 an over from the final 5. However, Farley was now bowled out and Acton and Singh only had 1 over apiece remaining.
Thors struck 9 off the 16th over with Daldorph finding the boundary before Choules followed suit in the 17th, the pair taking Singh’s last over for 8.
34 runs were now required from the final 3 and things were really in the balance, albeit Thors still had a lot to do. A useful 4 leg byes, followed by some quick singles and another 4 from Choules brought 10 runs off the 18th over.
Acton was introduced for the penultimate over, with Bradninch & Kentisbeare seemingly wanting to take the the game away from Thors before the last. The hosts couldn’t muster a boundary from the over but some good connections from Daldorph allowed for a couple of 2s and a well run 3.
16 runs were needed to win from the last over with Choules on strike to Brooks. A single gave Daldorph the strike who wasn’t going to go down easily. He crunched 2 4s, piling the pressure back onto the bowler.
7 runs now needed from the last 3 balls. Daldorph made solid contact only for a sublime bit of fielding on the rope kept the ball inside. The fielding brought warm applause by spectators and even from within the Thors ranks. As it was, Thors now needed 5 from 2.
Daldorph was seeing it like a beach ball now but edged the next one. However the force behind the strike made sure it still found the boundary to bring the scores level, George passing his half century in the process. He showed no pressure on the last ball as the final run was comfortably secured past square leg.
Thors were off the mark in the Covid Cup defence. The match practice in a well fought game surely to pay dividends for both sides throughout the season.
A huge thank you to Bob Rice for scoring and Rich Lloyd for umpiring as well as their opposite numbers. Thanks also to our visitors and the numerous spectators that would have enjoyed a thrilling game.
The T20 XI will go to Clyst St George on Tuesday with a spring in their step.
In a break from the beaming sunshine of recent weeks, it was a humid and drizzly day at Station Ground as the 1s hosted B Division champions Clyst St George.
The team was the same as their last win:
A.Pitt, D.Robbins, A.Chilcott, J.Geraghty, H.Choules, G.Daldorph, B.Coe, B.Slaviero, A.Jopling, J.Choules.
As is continuing to be strangely customary, the skipper won the toss. He unsurprisingly elected to bowl given the overhead conditions.
Opening pair Slaviero and Daldorph kept things tight from the get go with George striking in his first over – 0-1. It was a loose drive from Bunker that was expertly taken by Harry Choules low to his right.
Chris Ferro & Freddie Creer set about a rebuild for the visitors and did build their way into the game as they began to look more comfortable with the passing of time. After 6 overs apiece from the openers, the score reached 42-1. Daldorph was unlucky not to have another wicket as Creer was put down a couple of times at mid wicket, albeit not easy chances.
Jopling was introduced from the Pavillon End whilst Robbins was handed the ball from the River End. The latter felt a back twinge and was removed from the attack after 1 over.
Robbins was replaced by Geraghty and what followed was a very eventful period of cricket. The Aussie’s 2 overs only going for 12 runs but 6 were wides. Somewhere in the middle he bowled Ferro for 18.
All the while Jopling kept things extremely tight from his end. Another change at the River End saw the skipper introduced – trying to shake off the potential yips from the previous week.
Despite a boundary from his first over, Choules joined Jops in keeping things tight. A spate of calamitous running was the end of the visitor’s overseas player, Ronaldo Callander, with thanks to some sharp work from Billy Wakeley on his return to the side. Choules removed danger-man Donovan LBW for 6 shortly after as the total reached 74-4.
What followed can only be described as a large collapse and Choules took full advantage. In a matter of overs the score reached 89-7, the skipper securing 4 – the best of the bunch perhaps being an extremely sharp caught behind by brother Harry.
With Jopling (0-19) bowled out, Pitt got in on the act as Harry had another dismissal, stumping ex Devon youth teammate, Parminder Singh.
With Clyst 8 down and Choules into his 8th over, the race was on for him to get his 5fa. A smart catch from Coe quickly saw to that – 97-9.
There was little resistance from the final pair as Freddie Creer (48*) ran out of partners when Manning was run out at the non-strikers end. Clyst St George 100AO.
A delightful Daldorph tea was enjoyed while rain began to fall – only clearing to allow Pitt and Robbins to get on with the chase.
The pair took advantage of some early looseners as the score reached 26-0 after 4 and any pressure was immediately eased.
The change bowlers of B.Creer and I.Singh caused more of a threat to the hosts with the latter getting Robbins caught at mid on for 9 – a crunching cover drive being the innings highlight.
Chilcott brought some calm to proceedings whilst Pitt feasted on anything short or on his legs, bringing up his 50 at a run a ball.
As the score entered the nineties still less than 20 overs in, Pitt sought to finish in a flurry but not before Chilly also played a delectable cover drive along the carpet for 4 runs.
Pitt (64*) hit the winning runs at the start of the 21st over as the Thors secured 20 points.
The 1st XI hit the road for the next couple of weeks, travelling to high flying Kilmington next before a visit to winless Abbotskerswell.
A huge thanks to the Mays for their usual hard work in the score box and the numerous spectators that kept bar takings ticking over throughout the day.
Thorverton Cricket Club