It is the Committee’s aim to have a group photograph taken of all club members. This will also be an opportunity for last season’s 1st XI squad to have a photo taken with with League and Corinthian Cup trophies.
Please could all members therefore come to Station Ground for 11am on Saturday the 2nd of July so these can be taken. Please bring cricket whites. We are also planning to take player headshots for website & social media use.
The 1st XI are at home to Seaton & 2nd XI are away at Bradninch, so the date has been taken into consideration to ensure all members are in the vicinity of the club.
On the summer solstice, Thors travelled to Clyst St George to try and kickstart their Covid Cup campaign after last week’s narrow defeat to Bradninch.
With Jake Choules & Ben Slaviero unavailable, Dan Robbins took the captaincy, winning the toss on a warm, sunny evening and elected to field. Thors lined up with:- D.Robbins*, L.Vukusic, D.Baldock, J.Van Der Meulen, H.Choules+, G.Daldorph, Jack Baker, D.Hooper, E.Vukusic, A.Jopling, J.Stirling.
George Daldorph and Alex Jopling took the new pink ball for Thors and quickly looked to starve the hosts of runs. Daldorph bowled a tight first over at Donovan, conceding just four, followed up by a maiden from Jopling’s leg breaks. In the fourth over. Jopling was struck for two consecutive fours by Donovan, before bowling him for 18.
Manning & Kendall took 13 off Daldorph’s next over, before Jopling struck twice in three balls to remove Kendall (well caught by Luke Vukusic at extra cover) and Attwater, caught by Van Der Meulen at mid on. The hosts were 34-3 at the end of the 6 powerplay overs.
Erin Vukusic came into the attack, bowling tight lines and was unfortunate to concede two boundaries in her opening over. Jopling struck a fourth time to get Manning caught and bowled in his last over, returning impressive figures of 4-1-4-13.
The leg spin continued from the bottom end as Stirling replaced Jopling, removing Freddie Creer, caught behind with his first ball, the hosts 50-5. Bertie Creer (stumped well by Choules) & Ronaldo Callander (a well judging catch by Daldorph at backward point followed in Stirling’s next over to leave the visitors in a spot of bother at 59-7.
Hooper replaced Vukusic from the pavilion end and the incoming Steve Bourke went on the counter immediately, taking 14 off his first over, ably supported by Burrell. A couple of Bourke sixes into the neighbouring properties off Stirling’s last over and 16 off skipper Robbins first over brought Clyst right back into the game, Bourke adding 44 out of a 48 partnership.
After Stirling had bowled out (3-19), a change of ends for Hooper paid dividends, trapping Burrell in front at 107-8. Another 6 from Bourke brought up his 50, before he was bowled in the last over by Hooper for 56 from just 29 balls. Hooper rattled the stumps again 3 balls later to bowl the visitors out for 131; Hooper 3-24.
Robbins & L.Vukusic opened the reply with intent and consistently found the boundary, reaching 46-0 after the powerplay. Robbins then went up the gears, hitting Donovan for two consecutive sixes. He then planted Bertie Creer over square leg to bring up his 50, hitting his own car in the process.
In the same over he holed out to Bourke on the leg side boundary for 56 from just 27 balls, including six 4s and four 6s, Thors 78-1 after 8 overs.
Baldock joined Vukusic and the pair were happy to pick singles at ease, in addition to two consecutive 4s from Vukusic to take the score to 92-1 with 9 remaining.
Baldock was bowled by Callender for 9. Van Der Meulen in at 4 and he found the boundary a couple of times immediately. Thors taking 12 and 14 off the fifteenth and sixteenth overs, including a Vukusic 6 took the visitors close, before Van Der Meulen struck another 4 to secure the win with 23 balls remaining. Vukusic 33* (40) and Van Der Meulen 27* (12).
Next up in the Covid Cup is a home game against Exeter, scheduled for next Wednesday, although a fixture clash with the visitors Sun Belt Rentals Devon T20 fixture means this is almost certain to change.
We are delighted to announce that a triangular tournament will take place on 17th July. The tournament will take place at the club, featuring a side from Thorverton Cricket Club, and a side from Thorverton Village as has been a staple on the fixture list for the last few years.
We are also delighted to announce that European Champions Cup & Rugby Premiership winning Exeter Chiefs captain Jack Yeandle will be assembling a side with Exeter Chiefs connections to compete in the tournament.
The three teams will play a round-robin of 100 ball matches against each other, meaning each team will play two matches.
There will be a BBQ & the bar will be open for what promises to be a great day at the club.
Entry is free but we will be having a collection to raise money for the Exeter Chiefs Foundation.
Keep an eye on our social media platforms for updates
Thors at Heathcoat. Back Row L-R Ben Slaviero, Alice Pitt, Vanessa Wilson, Katherine Harget, Keeley Wells, Jason Van Der Meulen, Front Row:- Lucy Harget, Lisa May, Sophie Whiteley, Sureka Khan, Juliette Lea.
After last week’s narrow defeat against Exmouth the Women’s Softball team were back in action on Sunday at Heathcoat.
The team lined up as Sophie Whiteley, Lisa May, Vanessa Wilson, Lucy Wells, Sureka Khan, Katherine Harget, Juliette Lea and Alice Pitt.
Having lost the toss Heathcoat elected to field. Whiteley and May out to bat first. The pair started well with 1 run and a boundary, however the success was quickly snatched away with 2 consecutive wickets from an impressive Heathcoat bowler who took 3 wickets for 7 in the first over.
Vanessa Wilson and Lucy Wells then took to the crease and again impressive bowling from the home side saw us lose a wicket to the first ball. The pair quickly reorganised and went on to score and impressive 22 runs, despite missing out on 2 boundaries with some smart fielding.
Time for Khan and debutant Harget and what a fantastic 4 overs from the pair, scoring 27 both with a boundary and losing no wickets.
Final pair stepping up for Thors, Lea and Pitt, also on debut, an impressive 13 runs scored between the pair losing 1 wicket, the score at the end of the innings 86-5.
Heathcoat now in to bat Khan stepped up with the ball to start the innings and struck with her second ball, caught and bowled the new Heathcoat batter. Bowling partner Harget kept it tight in the second over however with some good running and the help of a boundary the first pair scored 27. Thors had their work cut out.
Wells came onto bowl next and some impressive tight bowling saw her take a much-needed wicket with partner Wilson taking two. We were back in the game.
The final four overs were tense – The regular death bowling partnership of May and Whiteley continued the Thorverton fight back. A wicket fell with the fifth ball thanks to captain Whiteley and bought us right back in to the game.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be and the game was lost by 5.
We are getting closer every week and having so much fun. Thank you to Katherine and Alice stepping in at short notice both making impressive debuts for the team.
Thank you to Heathcoat for a good game, played in great spirits. Thanks also to Ben Slaviero for umpiring Jason Van Der Meulen and Keeley Wells for scoring.
Next game is in just two days time on Tuesday 21st June, a friendly at home to Culmstock.
After Fridays heatwave, the 2nd XI entertained Kentisbeare 1st XI at a refreshingly cooler Station Ground. Stirling again lost the toss and Kentisbeare put the hosts in.
Farley and Daldorph once again took on opening duties and got the hosts off to a flier, both taking advantage of the hardness of the new ball & the rapid outfield to consistently find the fence, taking Thors to an impressive 83-0 from the first ten. The hundred partnership was brought up in the 15th over, and Daldorph’s 50 was reached off 53 balls in just 45 minutes of play.
Kentisbeare finally got Farley for 38 in the 18th over, ran out after Busch missed the stumps with a direct throw, the ball was kicked back onto the non-strikers stumps by bowler Peter Kittow.
The eagerly anticipated returning of Luke Vukusic at 3 got off to a solid start with Daldorph, taking the hosts to 147-1 at drinks.
Daldorph brought up his second league 100 of the season from just 96 balls before falling to Kittow, chopping on for 105. A great innings that included 16 fours. Thors 179-2 after 29 overs.
Andy Daldorph walks off after his 105
Baldock joined Vukusic and was swiftly removed for 5, bowled by Sanders. Debutant Sam Jefferson joined Vukusic and the pair continued to accumulate with some lovely shots and good running. Vukusic brought up a well earned 50 from 48 balls before being caught and bowled by Sanders for 59, with the score 257-4 with 5 left. Jefferson followed shortly after for 23.
Grant Squire & Jay Porter saw us through the remaining 5 overs with some kamikaze running which they both managed to survive. Squire finished with 13*, Porter 10* and the total 283-5 from our overs.
After one of the annual highlights for the 2nd XI, a Carol Farley tea, Thors took to the field with the light and threatening clouds looking less than ideal.
Erin Vukusic bowled Sanders with the first ball of the innings with a great inswinger that the Kentisbeare skipper took a while to process what had just happened. Brother Luke opened from the other end and the pair kept things below the required run rate, Luke then bowling Norman for 4 and the visitors were 30-2 after 8.
With the light fading sharply and the clouds looking even more threatening, a double spin change of Baker & Stirling came into the attack to try and get through as many overs before the impending rain came in. Baker removed Kittow LBW for 8 and Stirling also hit the pads of Bendall for 15, the visitors 63-4 from 19.1 overs when the rain hammered down, just 5 balls short of making a game under the league’s rules.
The heavy rain continued for 40 minutes and play resumed at 6:05pm. The visitors recalculated target 214 from 34 overs.
Baker (2-14) and Stirling (2-28) continued their spells until they were bowled out , both picking up another in the process, the visitors 72-6 after 23 overs as Coe and E.Vukusic came back into the attack.
Vukusic struck straight away, getting Busch caught by Baker for 5. Erin finished her 7 overs with impressive figures of 2-15. Luke replaced his sister from the River End.
Coe got in on the act, removing Scott Chappell, the only act of resistance for the visitors for a well made 50, bowled top of off.
In the final over, Coe had P.Chappell caught by A.Daldorph for 2 and struck with the very final ball to remove McQueenie for 0 and claimed all 20 points for the hosts, Kentisbeare 137ao and 76 runs short of the revised target.
Skipper Jack Stirling “Another impressive win with the ever dependable Andy Daldorph doing the business yet again. Great performances from Luke and Sam considering they’ve been away for a few months. To nearly bowl 20 overs in an hour after the innings break to try and ensure we got a result is testament to our attitude as a unit. Great stuff from the ball from Erin, Jonny and Olly to see things home. Everyone now knows their roles in this side and we need to continue to perform them well to get to where we need to be”.
The win keeps the 2nd XI 15 points clear at the top of the E East, as we host North Devon 3rd XI next Saturday.
The 1st XI were on the road this week and trying to put the disappointment of the home defeat to Abbotskerswell behind them.
There were 2 changes as Coe & Hooper replaced Diamond and Greed. Hooper was handed his 1st XI cap as it was his 5th appearance. Team: Pitt, Chilcott, Coe, Van der Meulen, Daldorph, H. Choules, Robbins, Hooper, Slaverio, Jopling, J. Choules
Thors left a cloudy Thorverton but the weather got brighter as we advanced down the A38, albeit rain was forecast for the evening. Choules lost the toss for the first time this season and Plympton elected to bat.
The hosts got off to a flier as the Thorverton bowling got to grips with the slope and breeze. The dangerous Eliot Hamilton, fresh off of a double ton, and Harry Kandampully went off like a gun and the score was 21-0 from 3 overs. The early signs were that it would be a costly toss to lose and a long day in the dirt beckoned.
However, teenage opening bowler George Daldorph began to pull things back with a tight 5 overs going at just over 3 an over. Robbins was introduced from the Church End with the dangerous Hamilton falling into his trap being sublimely caught by the ever-athletic Hooper at deep square leg. After 12 overs the score was 57-1.
The opposition captain came in at 3 and continued the attacking intent. The Thors skipper elected to take the pace off introducing himself and Jopling. Jopling bowled Wubbeling for 25 in the 21st over as the score had reached 104-2.
Kandampully passed his half century but was bowled by Choules’ worst delivery of the afternoon soon after. 115-3 at drinks and Thorverton had regained some control.
Before the spin pairing completed their allowable overs, Jopling picked up one more wicket with thanks to an extremely sharp catch behind by Harry Choules.
The innings was well poised but with the hosts overseas star still in, Slaviero was introduced with the aim of removing him. A huge LBW appeal went up as Slaviero wrapped the back pad. Not given. The next ball was driven hard to extra cover but straight into the hands of the ever reliable Coe and Slaverio had his man. 151-5 with 15 overs to go.
Pitt and Hooper kept things tight from here as the hosts struggled to get them away. The pair took wickets in consecutive overs as the score reached 174-7 with 8 to go.
Following some steady accumulation, Slaverio was brought back on to deal with the tail and did so, taking the final 3 wickets. The last 2 of which were in the last overof the innings. Plympton were all out for 210.
After a fantastic spread put on by the hosts, Pitt and Chilcott headed out to the middle. The first ball of the innings was a full toss that Pitt played around and was eventually given out LBW for. Coe joined Chilcott at the crease, both bringing their natural calmness to proceedings. There was a great battle between Coe and the sharp left armer Jonty Walliker in particular which included it’s fair share of well evaded bouncers and drives through the covers. By the time Chilcott was bowled by Mutombodzi’s doosra, the score was 40-2 in the 13th over.
After playing the next few overs through the rain, the covers were eventually brought on after 16 overs and the score on 45-2. Thors were behind on the DLS method but 20 overs have to be competed to constitute a game.
By the time a break in the rain came, the target was revised to 178 from a total of 37 overs.
Van der Meulen set about this positively as we edged closer to the DLS targets each over but also felt in control should the game go the distance. By the time Coe was caught in the 23rd over for 31, the score was 84-3. Thors required 96 from 14 overs.
Van der Meulen really took the game to Plympton, finding the boundary 7 times on his way to his half century. Daldorph chopping on in the meantime.
Harry Choules joined Jason at the crease and as the score reached 117-4 after 28 overs the rain began to fall again. Frustratingly the covers were straight on with Thors in control of the chase but behind on DLS.
As the weather cleared, the lost overs would mean there would only be 5 overs remaining, Thors requiring around 8 an over. With Plympton’s best bowlers bowled out, the field spread and wickets hand, there was confidence in the Thorverton changing room. However by the time the covers came off, the heavens opened again and that was that. Thorverton stranded on 117-4 and crucially behind on DLS.
A frustrated Thorverton skipper surmised: “I was really proud of our performance today from start to finish. I truly feel we were the better team on the day and certainly better than the 7 points we picked up. Strangely it doesn’t feel like a loss and I look forward to taking the confidence to top of the table Exmouth next week”
It was the first outing in the Covid Cup for Thors on Tuesday night, as we entertained Bradninch at a sun-drenched Station Ground.
Thors lined up with:- Pitt, L.Vukusic, Hooper, H.Choules+, Van Der Meulen, Porter, Slaviero*, Jopling, Meredith, J.Stirling, Wenley.
Eliot Acton won the toss and elected to bat in the June heat. Skipper Slaviero opened the bowling from the pavilion end and struck with just his fourth ball to remove the dangerous Tim Piper for just 4. Stirling took the catch, but not after Porter had called for it himself, misjudged his positioning and ended up on the deck. A chorus of laughter also ensued in the first over as the returning Luke Vukusic managed to get himself in a tangle chasing the ball to the leg side boundary, falling over as the ball trickled to the fence.
Pitt opened proceedings from the River End and struck with just his second ball with Eliot Acton nicking off behind. Mitch Pugh and Charlie Sheen started to take advantage of the powerplay with a few boundaries, before in the fourth over Sheen was well caught in the deep by Van Der Meulen off Pitt for 6.
The end of the powerplay saw Bradninch with 35-3 and brought about a double bowling change as Hooper and Jopling came into the attack. A nine ball over from Jopling saw 11 runs but also the wicket of South African overseas Chad Classen, caught by Slaviero. Pugh and Paul started to rebuild for the visitors, adding 18 from the next two overs.
Stirling replaced Hooper and bowled Paul with his third ball. The visitors 66-5 at the halfway stage. Pugh and Richards took another 11 off a Jopling over, before Stirling struck twice in two balls, bowling both Pugh and the incoming Badwal to reduce Bradninch to 78-7. Stirling claimed a fourth wicket, another bowled as Wakeley made his way back.
The off-spin of James Meredith replaced Jopling and kept things tight. Richards hit two large sixes off Stirling into the Orchard over the road, before Choules stumped Mills off the bowling of Meredith, then Hooper returned to bowl Liam Reed. The visitors 112 all out, with 2 overs left of their allocation.
Pitt & Vukusic opened the response for Thors. Vukusic was removed first ball, clean bowled by Classen. Hooper came in at 3 and he and Pitt accumulated in the powerplay overs, the score reaching 39-1 before Pitt was bowled by Acton for 17 in the last ball ball of the powerplay. Acton then struck again twice in his second over, bowling Hooper for 21 and nicking off Choules for 1. Sheen removed Porter plum LBW in the next over and Thors we’re struggling at 48-5 after 8.3 overs.
Skipper Slaviero joined Van Der Meulen and the paid took 8, then 11 off the next two overs, including a Van Der Meulen 6. Classen then returned to remove his fellow countryman Van Der Meulen, strangled down the leg side and well caught by Piper for 14.
Jopling and Slaviero added a few before Jopling was bowled by Pugh for 8; Thors 90-7 and needing 22 from 30. Badwal bowled two very tight sets at Meredith and uprooted Slaviero’s middle stump, Thors needing 19 from 17.
Stirling and Meredith ran well but could only manage 1s and 2s, Sheen finishing the job with the last over going for 8, Thors losing by 4 runs.
Women’s Soft Ball Team at Exmouth, L-R Back Row:- Ben Slaviero, Vanessa Wilson, Lucy Harget, Sureka Khan, Lisa May, Alex Jopling Front Row:- Tash Carbines, Juliette Lea, Sophie Whiteley, Nic Fice
After almost a month without a league fixture the Women softball team were back in action on Sunday at a sunny Exmouth.
The team lined up as Sophie Whiteley, Natasha Carbines, Vanessa Wilson, Lucy Harget, Lisa May, Sureka Khan, Juliette Lea and Nic Fice.
Having won the toss Thors took to the field with Khan and Harget taking the new ball. The Exmouth pair started well and managed to find the leg-side boundary on three occasions before Harget took a wicket with her final ball, well caught by Whiteley close in.
The next two overs from Lea and Carbines went the way of the home side with good running and some helpful extras. Lea and the returning Khan turned it around though with overs seven and eight going for just five runs, the score at halfway was 56-1.
Carbines returned to the attack and struck with her first ball, clean bowling the new Exmouth batter. Bowling partner Wilson also kept it tight and some good fielding meant the runs were kept to a minimum.
The final four overs were non-stop – Exmouth taking the initiative and finding the boundary off Whiteley before May dismantled the stumps with her first ball. She took another in her final over as the ball was skied to Harget who comfortably took the catch. The home side finished strongly with three boundaries to finish their innings on 112-4.
The regular partnership of May and Whiteley began the Thorverton chase. A wicket fell with just the second ball as May was bowled by one that moved and dipped on her. Whiteley struck back with a couple of well hit boundaries and it could have been more but for some brilliant Exmouth fielding on the rope. It was still a good start with 29-1 from the first four overs.
Fice and Lea were next at the crease and began by running well against the accurate Exmouth bowling. The ‘hit and run’ approach did result in one mix up that the home side capitalised on and it was all to play for at halfway. A boundary from Carbines was greeted with cheers from the sidelines and more good running with Wilson kept the momentum going.
A caught and bowled swung it back the home sides way though, and as Khan and Harget strode out it was 31 required from the final four overs. This was quickly made harder with a wicket falling in their first over, a brilliant one handed caught behind from the Exmouth keeper. Despite quick running and good calling the solid fielding kept the runs at bay and 21 runs were needed from the final over. Harget provided some hope, smashing a boundary first ball, perfectly placed between the fielders behind square. Singles and twos followed but it was not quite enough to get over the line and the chase fell seven runs short.
Women’s & Girls Skipper Sophie Whiteley unveiled the newly embossed Mosaic Rwanda as Women & Girl’s shirt sponsor on Saturday, pictured here with CEO James May
Thank you to Exmouth for a brilliant game, played in great spirits. Thanks also to Ben Slaviero for umpiring and Alex Jopling and Keeley Wells for scoring.
It was fantastic to see such improvement from the side with learnings from training clearly being put into practice and extras featuring far less on the scoresheet.
Next Sunday (19th) it’s at trip to Knighthayes to face Heathcoat CC.
After some short showers in the early morning, the sun beamed down on Station Ground where the 1st XI sought to make it 4 wins in a row. There were 2 changes from the team that won at Barton with the skipper and spinning partner Alex Jopling returning from holiday.
Choules won the toss yet again and elected to bat. The classy opening pair of Greed & Chilcott set the tone for the day getting value for shots in their opening stand of 69 before Greed was adjudged LBW for 38.
Diamond picked up where Greed left off as Thors accumulated early runs. Chilcott also fell LBW but not before passing his half century. Diamond was next to go for 29 with the consistent top 3 all being given out leg before wicket.
A few wickets then tumbled as we went from 141-2 to 147-5 with 17 overs remaining. Pitt and H. Choules showed maturity to steady the ship until a mix up meant Pitt was run out for 12.
Daldorph came to the crease, increasing the scoring rate in his nonchalant manner as the score rose above 200. Thorverton accelerated further from here and thanks to 55 not out from Choules, a run a ball 28 from Daldorph and a last over flurry from Slaviero Thors posted our highest score of the season so far – 247-7.
George Daldorph was awarded his 1st XI cap (number 58) by skipper Jake Choules
Notwithstanding the Cornish approach to scones, sincere thanks were handed to Dan Robbins for a superb tea before the players retook the field.
Despite a fast and disciplined opening spell from Slaviero (1-41) and a mature 5 overs from Robbins, Thors struggled to stem the run flow from the start. Abbots were with and above the required rate for the most part with the score already on 72 by the time we could take 2 wickets – Slaverio and Jopling bowling the opposition numbers 2 and 3 respectively.
Opener Eddie Smout-Cooper took the game to the Thorverton bowling and was well supported by Samuel Carpenter. Despite a number of bowling changes and short spells, Thorverton struggled to get control of the game. By the time the 2nd drinks break came in the 34th over, the visitors were 190-2.
A final roll of the dice saw Slaviero and Choules introduced. There was a glimmer of hope as Choules bowled Carpenter for 40 and then picked up another in the same over but with Smout-Cooper still there and now well past 100, Abbots remained in control.
Choules picked up one more before the visitors took the win with 4 overs to spare. Opener Smout-Cooper finishing on 152 not out.
The skipper concluded: “A tough one to take yesterday as felt we let it slip after posting a decent score. Maybe it was just under par but would back our bowling to defend 247 most times. We weren’t at our best in the field or with the ball but fair play to Abbots and especially Eddie Smout-Cooper who batted superbly.”
The first XI dropped from 4th to 5th in the congested A Division and are on the road for the next 2 weeks as we travel to Plympton & Exmouth.
After last week’s win over Topsham, the second XI took a trip down the A30 to take on Ottery St Mary 2nd XI. A fixture that twelve months ago resulted in a one wicket win for the hosts off the last ball.
Thors made a remarkable eight changes from the previous Saturday, lining up with:- J.Farley, A.Daldorph, B.Sapiecha, P.Stirling+, D.Hooper, J.Porter, G.Squire, S.Tait, E.Vukusic, I.Daldorph, J.Stirling*. Ottery won the toss and elected to bowl.
The familiar opening pairing of A.Daldorph & Farley walked to the wicket and got Thors off to a bright start, putting away persistent loose balls from the Ottery opening pair, and taking 54 from the opening ten overs.
Farley was the first to fall, edging Harris behind for 23 with the score on 68-1. Daldorph was trapped in front by Lovell in the next over for 43 from 36 balls.
Sapiecha & P.Stirling now occupied the crease and Sapiecha in particular showed a serious amount of intent, hitting four 4s in his 18 ball stayed before skying a pull shot off Harris back to the bowler for 20.
Hooper came and went for 0; chipping his second ball to Venables at mid off after a ball from off-spinner from Lovell stuck in the pitch. Thors found themselves 93-4 after just 18 overs.
Porter & P.Stirling started to steady the ship for Thors, Porter being welcomed to the crease by a ball that jagged back into his unmentionables & a lengthy time spent crouching. The pair put on 32 before a running mix up saw Porter run out for 6. 125-5 after 27.
Squire came in at 7 and immediately looked more comfortable than any of his colleagues on the slow pitch. P.Stirling chipped Venables to Harris at mid off for 28 and the incoming Tait chopped on for 2. Thors had collapsed from 92–2 to 147-7 with eleven overs left.
E.Vukusic joined Squire & the two upped the the run rate, both finding the boundary regularly, including two sixes from Squire. The pair ran aggressively & swiftly secured the final two available batting points by the 40 over mark. Squire cut the ball away to make his 50 two overs later, but immediately found himself LBW to Southall-Brown on the same score, Thors 219-8 after 42.
Imogen Daldorph joined Vukusic and the good running continued. Daldorph found the boundary before edging behind the penultimate ball of the innings for 7. Skipper Stirling hit the final ball for 4 and the 2s had recovered to 235-9 from their 45 overs. Vukusic finished with a classy 27*
Fortunately the dependable James Meredith was present to come on as sub fielder. Not having his kit in the car, the musical Meredith paid homage to the 1980 Madness hit ‘Baggy Trousers’ and the 1990 Happy Mondays single ‘Loose Fit’ when he strolled out wearing Jay Porter’s spare whites.
After a tea kindly provided by our hosts, Hooper & Tait took the new ball. Ottery’s overseas Jevin Isidore immediately took the game to Thors with some hard blows, taking the score to 35-0 after 5 and taking 18 off Tait’s second over, aided somewhat by A.Daldorph accidentally throwing the ball over the boundary instead of back to the middle. In Tait’s third over, he stretched across in an attempt to stop the ball, slipped and pulled his groin.
Hooper bowled Brewster in the next over for 2. Erin Vukusic replaced Tait before Hooper struck again, bowling Hanley for 0, leaving the visitors 52-2 after 11.
Stirling replaced Hooper for a brief two over spell, bowling the dangerous Isidore for 44 from 45 balls. Imogen Daldorph joined her county teammate Vukusic and struck with just her third ball, Southall-Brown well caught by Porter for 26. The girls continued to plug away at the Ottery batters & Daldorph struck again in her third over, bowling Weekes for 9.
Stirling replaced Vukusic and struck again, bowling Venables for 0, leaving the hosts 122-6 at drinks.
An unfortunate bout of nausea saw Imogen leave the field & she was replaced by Porter from the pavilion end, Thors left with ten on the field immediately after drinks.
The dangerous Rob Johns was run out after trying to run two to Hooper for 23. Porter got in on the car with an impressive caught and bowled diving to his left; Ottery 150-8.
The tail frustrated the Thors bowlers, hanging around and added 30 before Hooper returned to bowl Harris for 22. A further 18 were added before Hooper wrapped things up bowling Lovell for 26, the hosts 197 all out and Hooper finishing with impressive figures of 8.5-1-4-16.
Captain Jack Stirling “I thought we made things harder for ourselves than they could’ve been, especially with the bat and a few freebies in the field. Grant & Erin performed exceptionally to dig us out of trouble. Winning when not at our best is a good sign. I’d have snapped your hand off at being 13 points clear at the top a third of the way through the season; plenty of positives so far”.
Thanks to Rich Lloyd for umpiring, Bob Rice for scoring and James Meredith for being present to sub field.
Next up for the 2nd XI is a home fixture against Kentisbeare 1st XI on Saturday 18th.
Thorverton Cricket Club 