After last week’s demolition job of fellow promotion candidates Honiton, Thors travelled to Topsham for undoubtedly their biggest game of the season. The day started with Thors 8 points clear of the second placed hosts, who had won 8 in a row.

The visitors lineup:- L.Vukusic, A.Daldorph, S.Jefferson, D.Baldock, G.Squire, P.Stirling+, B.Heard, J.Baker, I.Daldorph, J.Stirling*, J.Broom. Stirling won his first toss for 92 days and elected to bat on a dry wicket & rapid outfield.

Vukusic & Daldorph opened the innings, taking Thors to 50-0 after the first ten, Vukusic in particular finding the gaps & the bowlers with relative ease; looking assured in the process.

The pair continued until just after the first of the two scheduled drinks breaks as the spin of Wardell bowled Daldorph uncharacteristically short of his half-century on 47. Daldorph is sitting pretty at the top of the E Division East batting charts with an impressive 596 league runs this campaign. Thors 103-1 after 16 overs.

The hosts managed to enforce a dramatic turnaround in momentum as the tidy spin of Perry & Wardell took a flurry of wickets and have limited opportunities to score. Jefferson, Baldock, Squire, P.Stirling and Heard all fell to the pair in single figures & Topsham must’ve fancied their chances as Thors capitulated to 136-6 after 29 overs.

Vukusic stood strong & still looked comfortable, passing 50 for the second time this season. He was ably supported by the straight bat of Jonny Baker at number 8. The pair tucked along nicely to take Thors passed a fourth batting point, before Vukusic was bowled for a well made 69 from 103 balls.

Imogen Daldorph came and went courtesy of a screamer of a catch at midwicket by Declan Wardell, taking the ball behind him and over his head, somehow managing to negotiate hitting the ground; there won’t be many better catches in the division this year.

Baker was then stumped for a very handy 26. Last man Broom strode out to join skipper Stirling with Thors 18 short of a vital fifth batting point at 182-9 with 4 overs left.

The pair ran well and took advantage of the occasional loose ball to steer the visitors beyond the crucial 200 mark. They both hung around at the end to deny Topsham the last bowling point, finishing on 213-9.

Broom & I.Daldorph took the new cherry in response, with Topsham openers Wardell & Sapwell taking the score to 34-0 from 8 when a double bowling change brought Baker & J.Stirling into the attack.

Wardell was first to go, a victim of some turn and bounce from Stirling finding the glove, deflecting off P.Stirling’s gloves into the safe grasp of Baldock at first slip; Topsham 41-1.

Perry & Sapwell continued to chip away in the heat before Stirling got his opposite number, bowled through the gate with the score on 69. Baker trapped Perry LBW four runs later, before Stirling trapped danger-man Treleaven in front for just 4; Topsham 77-4 after 20 overs.

Baker finished his nine overs with tidy figures of 1-27. Stirling struck again to remove LBW to remove Croxall; Topsham 92-5 and Stirling bowled out with 4-29.

Broom came back into the attack & Heard replaced Stirling from the other end, bowling Williams with just his second ball. Broom then found the edge of Sharp & the hands of Baldock at slip to leave the hosts struggling at 108-7. Shillabeer proved sticky to remove, soaking up 45 balls for 24. Daldorph replaced Broom & took the final three wickets to bowl the hosts out for 150; Daldorph returning with 3-35.

Scorecard

League Table

The win gives Thors pole position in the title race and keeps us 51 points clear of third placed Honiton.

Jack Stirling “A really impressive performance against the best side we’ll face in this league. Luke’s knock was the most mature I’ve seen from him and it’s great to see him in the runs. As a unit we were so tight today to turn things around from 136-6 & were near-faultless in the field. Everyone did their job with the ball & the metronomic Imogen Daldorph is proving herself to be more and more of an asset everytime we play. I’m so proud of every single player in this squad to get us into such an enviable position with four games to go and we absolutely deserve to be there. We need to ensure we don’t let up and secure the title now as nothing less is befitting for the season we’ve had to this point”.

Next up, the 2s host Ottery St Mary on Saturday 13th August at home.

Slaviero won the toss and elected to bat on a pleasant evening at the Station ground. Pitt and Greed walked out to the middle and both departed soon after. Donovan bowled Pitt with a slower ball and Greed was removed the first ball of the very next over, the Creer twins combining with Freddie taking a very smart catch behind the stumps off Bertie’s bowling with the score at 4-2.

Jefferson and Van Der Meulen steadied the ship with a mix of boundaries and good running they got the score up to 45. Then four Thorverton wickets were lost for just 17 runs. Jefferson was bowled by Cragg for a tidy 25. Choules joined Jason at the crease but didn’t last long, after a mix up he was ran out without scoring. A few balls later Van Der Mulen ran past one of Craggs off spinning deliveries and was stumped before Daldorph was adjudged LBW off the bowling of Ronaldo Callendar. 62-6.

Heard and Porter started the rebuild again, both finding the boundary and running well between the wickets putting on 28 before Porter was bowled by Singh. 90-7 with 6 to go. Slaviero joined Heard and they picked up the run rate, capitalising on the bad balls they managed to push the score up to 143-7, taking 19 off the last over of the innings. Heard 29* and Slaviero 19*

Clyst St George got off to a flyer with Donovan and Attwater finding the boundary with ease scoring 33 off the first four overs. Joping was introduced and instantly made an impact bowling Attwater for 19. Donovan took a liking to Daldorph’s third over taking 21 from it leaving CSG 56-1 after 6.

Pitt was introduced in the 8th over and removed Donavan with his second ball, aided by a superb bit of boundary fielding at long on from Van Der Mulen. Freddie Creer falling two balls later mistiming a pull and being caught at deep mid wicket by Jefferson.

Joping and Pitt then kept it tight with just 21 runs coming from the next 6 overs. Pitt claimed a third wicket in his final over with Bertie Creer suffering the same fate as his twin brother, caught at deep mid wicket by Jefferson.

Callendar hung around with Cragg pushing the score up to 100 and after a few lusty blows he was bowled by a Van Der Mulen yorker. Singh and Cragg put on another 15 before Jason struck again, bowling Singh with a ball that clipped the top of off stump. Soon after Burrell was smartly ran out by Porter with the score at 119-7.

Cragg found the boundary twice off Heard in the final over getting the score up to 132-7 finishing on 31 not out.

A steady all round performance from the Thors with the tail wagging to get them up to a competitive total. The bowing unit pulled it back after an explosive start from the Clyst St George openers and kept it tight through the middle overs leaving the Clyst batters with too much to do.

Scorecard

Thorverton 143-7 Heard 29, Jefferson 25, Van Der Meulen 20, Slaviero 19

CSG 132-7 Pitt 3-12, Van Der Meulen 2-14, Jopling 1-14.

Four wins from five matches leaves us in a strong position to retain the Covid Cup.

Next up Exeter (H) Thursday 11th August.

The committee have today published the Club Development plan for 2022-2027.

The club is continuing to grow and has ambitious targets for development over the next 5 years. Following consultation with the club membership, the committee has written a Club Development Plan for this period. This plan is not exhaustive but covers the key areas and will form the framework for prioritisation and resource over the coming years.

You are able to download and read the club development plan below.

After their first league win last week an unchanged Womens Softball team welcomed Heathcoat to the Station Ground for their final competitive fixture of the season. 

The team lined up as: as Sophie Whiteley*, Lisa May+, Vanessa Wilson, Lucy Wells, Sureka Khan, Katherine Harget, Lucy Harget and Natasha Carbines. 

Keeping to last weeks winning formula Carbines and Wilson opened the batting and made a solid start. Wilson struck a nice four through the covers whilst Carbines clobbered a couple to the leg side boundary. The Heathcoat skipper did bounce back with a smart caught and bowled to end the first four overs with the score at 27-1.

Whiteley and May were next in and got away with one early – the ball was skied; dropped and then a run-out missed with both batters at the same end! Whiteley then decided boundaries were the way to go and struck four of them in her next five balls, including one big six towards the road – much to the delight of the home spectators. She was bowled a few balls later trying to repeat the shot, keeping the Heathcoat wicket tally moving. 

Next to the crease were Wells and K Harget and the latter soon got going with a couple a sweetly hit boundaries. Wells was then run out at the strikers end and a smart caught behind made it two wickets in an over. Two more Harget boundaries and some quick running ended the third set of overs with the score at 104-4. 

As is often the case with Khan and L Harget, the final four overs were non-stop action!

Harget was unlucky to play the ball onto her own stumps; the faintest of touches resulting in Umpire Slaviero raising the finger – and getting an evil stare from Harget for his troubles. Twenty-four runs came from the next ten balls with some brutal hitting from both batters, including a six from Harget which was just dropped over the boundary. A couple of balls later the ball was destined for six again before being excellently caught on the rope. The batting pair did not let up though and two more fours kept the runs flowing going into the final over. There was an element of luck to the next wicket as a trademark drive down the ground from Harget flicked the hand of the bowler and went onto the stumps, running out Khan in the process. The final ball was Heathcoats eighth wicket, as middle stump was knocked back bringing an end to a thrilling innings with Thorverton finishing on 144-8. 

With a healthy start of forty runs the Heathcoat batters took to the crease to face Khan and Harget. The bowling was hard to get away and with some tight fielding the first four overs were restricted to eighteen. Wells took over the bowling and took a wicket in her first over, caught by Whitely at mid-wicket. A couple of boundaries were found but then only three runs from the next two overs from Wells and Harget to leave the score at 77-1 at halfway. The Heatchoat captain came to the crease and struck the ball well but the Thorverton boundary riders were perfectly placed and managed to reduce the pair largely to singles off the bowling of Whiteley and May. There was still some nerves in the Thorverton side at the lack of wickets but this soon changed as the ball was thrown to Carbines. Her second ball took a big edge and was plucked by a stretching May behind the stumps – the newly donned keeping gloves potentially making the difference! The next ball needed no assistance as it clean bowled the Heathcoat batter to leave Carbines on a hattrick. It wasn’t to be, but it only took a couple of balls before she had another, once again caught by Whiteley at mid-wicket, making it three wickets in the over for just two runs. The following two overs passed by for eleven runs before Wilson got in on the act, a third catch for Whiteley at mid-wicket! There were two final boundaries for Heathcoat but it was too little too late and the innings finished on 130-5.

Thorverton – 144 runs scored + 5 wickets taken = 169 

Heathcoat – 90 runs scored + 8 wickets taken = 130

Scorecard

League Table

Thank you to Heathcoat for an enjoyable match, Ben Slaviero and Malcolm Cloete for umpiring, Alex Jopling, Fardin Kibria and Jason Van Der Meulen for scoring and all those who came down to support.

Two great results in the final two league games for the Womens Softball side which really shows the development over the season. Training continues for the next two weeks before a friendly against Exwick on 23rd August. 

We then host our own Softball Festival on Sunday 4th September, where we may be hosting up to eight teams for a day of games!

We want to ensure we are communicating with our members, volunteers and supporters in the most efficient and popular ways. Please help us to try and improve the ways we keep you updated with news & information from the club.

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The 1st XI travelled to fellow B Division promotees Kilmington as both sides were looking for a win to distance themselves from the A Division relegation zone.

Thors made one change from the win at Exeter with Alistair Chilcott coming into the side for George Greed. There was a bit of rain in the air during the toss but the forecast was set fair and when the hosts won the toss they elected to bat on a deck known for its high scores this season.

In a similar vein to last week, Ben Slaverio & George Daldroph kept it tight for the Thors early doors restricting Kilmington to 29-1 after 12 overs, Slaverio with the wicket.

Kilmington tried to get after the change bowling partnership of Robbins and Van Der Meulen but not without the pair picking up a wicket each. After 21 overs the score was 84-3 and the spin pairing of Jopling and Choules were introduced.

Choules struck instantly, getting Seaward caught and bowled. The pair kept it generally tight but the hosts found the boundary with ease when presented with the odd loose ball, Josh Short in particular looking impressive.

Choules picked up a couple more wickets, however, thanks to smart catches from Harry Choules and Sam Jefferson to remove Josh Cann & Josh Short respectively. By the time Choules & Jopling had finished their 10 over spells the score was 166-6 going into the final 10 overs.

Naturally, kilmington looked to increase the rate in the last 10 and whilst they didn’t find the boundary too regularly, they ran well putting pressure on the Thorverton fielders. Daldorph and Van Der Meulen both picked up wickets at the death but Harry Johnstone batted well for the hosts scoring a half century before being run out on the penultimate ball of the innings. Kilmington ended on 234-9.

There were points where it looked like Thors could have restricted Kilmington to even less but the score was still slightly under par given past scores at Kilmington this summer.

Thors started the chase positively with Robbins finding the boundary twice in the first over off of Kilmington’s Aussie overseas, Osborn-Corby.

However he then departed in the 4th over for 13 and halfway through the powerplay (5 overs) Thors were 24-1. Osborn-Corby decided to test Fielder with some short stuff with the first finding the fine leg boundary for 6. Expecting the same again, Fielder dispatched the very next ball over third man, out of the ground and narrowingly missing a neighbouring greenhouse. Widely believed to be the first time the veteran has hit 2 6s in a row.

By the time Fielder fell in the 15th over for a well made 30, the score was 69-2. A solid start from Thorverton meant that we were ahead of the run rate and keeping wickets in hand would be key. Chilcott, batting at 3 this week, and Van Der Meulen, steadily accumulated before Josh Short got the prize Van Der Meulen wicket in the 19th over with the score on 99.

Teenager Sam Jefferson then came and went, out LBW for 5 as H. Choules and Chilcott sought to rebuild. Approaching his half century, Chilcott slapped a long hop to the only fielder on the leg side boundary only to be put down. He almost instantly regrouped finding the boundary in elegant fashion, followed by a single to bring up his 50, his 4th of the season.

The opposition spinners had started to find their rhythm at this point, getting the ball to misbehave with the ageing surface and ball. This was the undoing of Choules, caught at slip for a patient 12 off of 36 balls as well as Pitt, also caught at slip, not before finding the boundary twice.

With 15 overs to go, we were 160-6 needing 75 more to win. Chilcott continued to make things look straightforward though, turning the strike over and finding the boundary when required. Daldorph also looked in good touch, clattering the sight screens with some strong straight drives. The pair put on 51 for the 7th wicket and by the time Daldorph was out for a well made 24, the win was in touching distance.

In true Thorverton fashion, this was not without nerves and hiccups. Jopling came and went for 4 in 48th over with 6 still required to win. Slaverio didn’t help nerves by wafting outside his off stump on his first ball but that was a minor blip as he saw out the next balls maturely, finding a couple of singles in the process.

The nerves in the hutch were not matched by Chilcott who, now with the field up, pummelled Fuzzard to the boundary to win the game for Thors, 19 points.

The relief was palpable in the Thors ranks as Chilcott finished on 94 not out – perhaps one of the best TCC innings since the win/lose DCL era.

Scorecard

League Table

As Thorverton stayed in 6th but moved 26 points clear of the drop zone, the skipper said:

“Huge win. Really great game of cricket against 2 evenly matched sides. Felt we kept them just under par but was still very tense during the chase! Clinical and composed from Chilly, I’m so pleased for him, a great innings”.

Next week the 1s are back at home to face 8th placed Barton.

After the ship steered slightly off course last week with a loss to Braunton, the 2nd XI returned to the Station Ground this week to take on fellow promotion chasers Hontion. Executive Officer Coe returned to captain the side and won the toss, electing to bat.

Thorverton lined up: A. Daldorph, L. Vukusic, B. Coe*, D. Baldock, B. Heard, G. Squire, J. Baker (jnr), J. Broom, E. Vukusic, J. Meredith+, I. Daldorph

The decision to bat looked almost questionable when A. Daldorph was out bowled in the second over for 9. L. Vukusic soon followed a couple of overs later in the same fashion, scoring 5. Coe and Baldock were now at the crease with some serious intent. Coe only dealt in boundaries for his first 16, whilst Baldock also started to free the arms, the side reaching 63-2 off the first 10 overs. Baldock then fired 22 off the 11th over, including a stupendous 6 that sailed over the sight screen into the recently harvested field. He fell shortly after for 46 being stumped off the leg-spinner Ingram.

Heard came and went for 2 just after drinks. Squire joined Coe in the middle and the pair set about setting course for a big total. Coe flashed the ball through slips on a few occasions before bringing up his 50 in the 26th over. The partnership consisted of a cocktail of easy singles and punishing the bad ball by putting it to the rope, the crew applauding as they went. The partnership reached 110 before Coe departed after being bowled by Kelly. 206-5 the score with around 10 overs to go.

Baker, who scored a ton midweek for the U14 Devon Development side, looked comfortable at the crease with Squire. By the time Squire was judged LBW for 66, the 250 landmark was brought up. With 5 overs to go, skipper Coe set in his gunner Broom. After a dab for 2, 6 into the bank and a bigger 6 into the orchard, Broom was bowled for 14 off 4 balls. Baker and E. Vukusic saw the remaining overs out taking the score to a massive 280-7.

Thorverton 2XI 280-7, Coe 82, Squire 66, Baldock 46, Baker 26*

After a smashing spread from the Coe’s, and a Happy Birthday to Mary, the sides returned to the field. Honiton started brightly with a few boundaries coming in the opening overs before Broom and E. Vukusic started to really hit their line and length. E. Vukusic removed Groves, caught by Heard over his head. After winding himself up over various decisions on wides and no balls, Haysom holed out to L. Vukusic at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of his sister, straight after Coe marshalled two fielders back there. Honiton 40-2 at this point.

The change bowlers of I. Daldorph and Heard kept things relatively quiet for a few overs with the odd boundary. I. Daldorph then picked up her first wicket of the afternoon, Kennel driving straight to Squire at cover. She then picked up her second when Coe leapt like a salmon (sound familiar) to this left, dropping the original chance in his left hand before twisting to take it with his right. Victim number three wasn’t too far away either, Holmes the batter this time, caught at mid-on by A. Daldorph running round.

By this point, Heard had got bored of seeing wickets tumble at the other end and got in on the act himself, bowling the left-handed Conway. Honiton were struggling at 100-6 and the result looked a formality. I. Daldorph then picked up her fourth for the innings, bowling Freemantle and had another over and a half to pick up a 5fa. Sadly, this wasn’t to be as Heard took the last three wickets, two bowled and the last caught by L. Vukusic.

Honiton 129 ao. I. Daldorph 4-26, B. Heard 4-40, E. Vukusic2-38

Scorecard

League Table

The results of the last two weeks see’s Thors remain top of the league, with a 45 point gap to Honiton in third place and promotion still very much in their own hands. The side will look to extended the 8 point lead they have on Topsham St James in 2nd place when we make the short trip south next week.

A sunny Tuesday evening saw the Womens Softball team play their first league fixture for over a month. With a couple of recent friendly wins against Culmstock, the side were hoping to get their first league win of the season at home to the unbeaten Exmouth. 

The team lined up as: as Sophie Whiteley*, Lisa May, Vanessa Wilson, Lucy Wells, Sureka Khan, Katherine Harget, Lucy Harget and Natasha Carbines. 

Thors won the toss and opted to field with Khan and LucyHarget taking the new ball. After a few looseners the bowling pair soon found their stride and Khan took the first wicket in the third over with a well taken caught and bowled. Harget followed this up with two wickets in as many balls, a couple of full swinging deliveries clattering into the stumps. 

Wells and Katherine Harget took over the bowling as the new Exmouth pair started to rebuild, running well and taking advantage of a few extras. Replicating her sisters earlier feat, Katherine then took two wickets in two balls – both clean bowled. Two dots followed before Whiteley and Harget combined for a run out, and then Whiteley took a good catch at mid-wicket to finish the over with four wickets for no runs! The score at the halfway stage was 41-7.

May and Whiteley bowled the next set of four overs which brought about a couple of boundaries as well as a wicket for May, well caught by Khan at wicketkeeper. The final Exmouth batters came to the crease and struck the ball brilliantly off the bowling of Carbines and Wilson. The quick outfield and powerful striking resulted in six boundaries and a partnership of 41 with Exmouth ending their innings 105-8.

Thanks to eight wickets the Thorverton chase started on 40 as Carbines and Wilson took to the crease. They batted sensibly and ran well with Carbines also managing to find the boundary on two occasions. One wicket did fall but it was a very productive 35 run partnership. Whiteley and May were next in and a wicket fell with just the second ball as an enthusiastic swing from the captain resulted in her hitting her own stumps! Exmouth were fielding brilliantly, reducing the batters to singles only, and when Whiteley opted to take the aerial route the ball looked destined for six; only to be expertly caught on the boundary edge. At the halfway stage Thors were on 97 now chasing 115.

Wells and K. Harget continued to tick over the scoring with some well judged running and a boundary from Harget. Exmouth did strike back with two wickets of their own, but the home side were in the driving seat with just three runs needed from the final pair, providing no more wickets were lost.

It was down to usual pair of Khan and L. Harget – well known for their quick, and occasionally risky running – to finish the chase. There we regular shouts of ‘just one!!’ from the onlooking, and somewhat nervous, Thorverton team as the pair went about their work. Despite a wicket the score was surpassed and there was a final flourish of boundaries from both batters to give Thorverton their first ever league win!

Exmouth – 105 runs scored + 6 wickets taken = 135

Thorverton – 127 runs scored + 8 wickets taken = 167 

Thank you to Exmouth for a great game of cricket, Ben Slaviero and Sean Day for umpiring, Keeley Wells and Jason Van Der Meulen for scoring and all those who came down to support.

The final league game is Tuesday 2nd August, at home to Heathcoat CC.

The 1st XI gathered at Station Ground for breakfast seeking to shake off any cobwebs left from the Stirling wedding the night before.

The XI- Robbins, Fielder, Greed, Van der Meulen, Jefferson, H. Choules, Pitt, Daldorph, Slaverio, Jopling, J. Choules.

With a bit of moisture in the air, Choules won the toss and elected to field. Slaverio and Daldorph took the new ball and kept things tight in the first powerplay as the score reached 37-2 after 11 overs, Slaverio picking up both wickets. It could’ve been even better for Thors had a couple of caught behind appeals gone in our favour.

Dangerman Sam Read came and went as he was caught well by Jefferson on debut off the bowling of Van der Meulen.

Tom Richardson, a player Thors knew well, started the rebuilding process for the visitors, timing the ball well. Jopling kept things tight at the pavilion end and then caught Clist for 42 in Dan Robbins’ first over.

This brought Exeter’s overseas, Jehan Daniel, to the crease as he and Richardson struck the ball well. The score reached 115-4 at the halfway stage.

The skipper brought himself on after drinks and almost immediately struck as he removed Daniel, caught and bowled. He had another in his second over as Robbins took a calm catch at long on.

Richardson and Billy Buckingham dug in for the city side with the former passing 50 with the score on 137-6 with 18 overs left.

Choules got Buckingham LBW and Richardson was out soon after thanks to a quick stumping by Harry and at 146-8 the visitors were in trouble.

With Jopling bowled out, Pitt was introduced from the pavilion end and had a wicket as the skipper turned a regulation catch at square leg into a one handed diver. The skipper completed his 5fa in the next over and Exeter were all out for 149.

Paul Fielder served up a quality tea before opening the batting with Robbins. Joe Gore and Jehan Daniel bowled with some good pace for the visitors as Daniel removed Robbins and Greed inside 6 overs. Fielder looked comfortable but ran himself out in the 9th and Thors were in a spot of bother at 27-3.

Jefferson looked comfortable on 1st XI debut as he and Van der Meulen saw off the opening bowlers first spells but a lapse in concentration had Sam caught behind to the first ball of the change bowlers, Sam sportingly walking off before the finger went up.

The score was 48-4 when Harry Choules joined Jason at the crease but the pair kept the strike rotating and found the boundary on occasion, bringing a sense of calm to proceedings.

Jason passed his 50 and the pair’s partnership reached 67 before Choules was run out for 23.

Daniel was back on for the city side in a last throw of the dice but Pitt had no problem dispatching him over the mid wicket boundary. However he was caught trying to repeat it as the score reached 134-6.

Nerves started to creep back into the Thorverton ranks but with Jason still there and Daldroph handling the barrage of short stuff in his nonchalant fashion, there was no reason for nerves.

A boundary from Jason in the 31st over completed the job and Thors had completed the league double over Exeter.

Scorecard

League Table

We leapfrog 3 teams in the table and climb to 6th. It is a trip to fellow B Division promotees Kilmington next.

The skipper’s thoughts:
“Great win today, ground fielding and bowling was a really good standard. Ben Slaviero set the tone early. Good recovery from 20-3. Jason brilliant again and Harry also enjoying some decent form with the bat. 6 games to go, 4 of which are against teams below us in the table but will need to keep performing at a top level”

On a cooler evening following the blistering heatwave, Thors travelled to the County Ground to take on Exeter in the Covid Cup. Ben Slaviero won the toss and elected to bat on a rock hard pitch. Thors line up:-

L.Vukusic, S.Jefferson, H.Choules+, J.Van Der Meulen, B.Heard, J.Porter, B.Slaviero*, A.Jopling, J.Stirling, S.Tait, E.Vukusic

Jefferson and L.Vukusic opened on a pacey pitch and took 17 from the first two overs, assisted by a nine ball over from Gore and a couple of boundaries. Vukusic hit the first six of the innings over long on off Lovell, only to try and emulate it 3 balls later and was out for ten, caught by Dube.

Jefferson & Choules slowly built the foundations for the innings, aided by some phenomenal running between the wickets. Thors 36-1 at the end of the first powerplay.

The pair stuck around and started to up the tempo, including Choules striking two large straight sixes off Billy Buckingham to take the score to 110-1 from 14 overs. They both fell in the 15th to Finn Hill, Jefferson for 35 (36), Choules 44 (40).

Van Der Meulen batted with real intent and made finding the boundary look easy, striking four fours and a six on his way to 31 from 14 balls before being caught off Dube. Thors lost Porter for 4 and Heard for 9 and finished 166-6.

Van Der Meulen & E.Vukusic took the new ball with Exeter taking advantage of the field restrictions, adding 48 in the first five overs. One of Vukusic’s trademark inswingers clattered the leg stump of Dube for 29 and Exeter were 50-1 at the end of the powerplay.

Jopling & Tait took over and were consistent with their lengths. Tait had Hill well caught at deep mid-wicket by Porter for 13 to leave the hosts 78-1 at the halfway stage.

Sam Read took a liking to the bowling change of Stirling for Jopling, finding the boundary twice off his first over to leave the hosts needing 78 from 54.

Tait nicked off Abrahams for 36 & Stirling had Read caught by Jopling running around from mid on for 19. Spittles & Zach Vukusic continued to knock the ball around and left the visitors requiring 40 from 30.

Vukusic tried to clear Jefferson at mid-on and had appeared to until he put up a solitary hand to plucked the ball above his head; Tait finishing with impressive figures of 3-20.

Buckingham took 16 from Stirling’s last over to hand the balance over to the hosts needing 18 from 18. Van Der Meulen returned to bowl a tight 18th over, conceding just two.

Jopling bowled Buckingham for 20 (12) in the penultimate over and conceded just 4; Exeter now requiring 12 from 6.

Van Der Meulen bowled good lengths and had Spittles caught by Slaviero under a steepler at midwicket. Just four runs were conceded and Thors ran out winners by 7 runs.

SCORECARD