On a sunny May evening, Thors pulled on the coloured kit for the first time this season to take on Sandford in a T20 friendly as a warm up for the Sunbelt Rentals Devon T20 away at Bovey Tracey 1st XI on Sunday.

Thors lined up with:- A.Pitt, A.Chilcott, B.Coe, G.Greed, J.Van Der Meulen, D.Baldock, J.Porter+, B.Heard, B.Slaviero, J.Choules*, J.Stirling.

Skipper Choules won the toss and decided to have a bat on a fresh deck. Pitt got the innings off to a flyer, with Pitt finding the boundary with some impressive drives and ramps to take the score to 18-0 after the opening over from James Theedom. Chilcott ably supported him in an attritional fashion throughout the powerplay overs, with Pitt (26 from 20) falling to the final ball of the fielding restrictions, chipping Griffiths to Gidney at mid-wicket. As the field was permitted to spread, Thors had reached 43-1.

Chilcott fell for 14 (23) not longer after. Coe and Greed threatened to play themselves in on a slowish pitch, but fell to Foan (Coe 11 from 18) and Morgan-Huggett (Greed 3 from 9) respectively, leaving Thors 69-4 after 12 overs.

The new pairing of Van Der Meulen & Baldock went hard at the Sandford bowlers and quicky accelerated the score. Van Der Meulen dispatched Foan over long off for 6, followed by dispatching Everett over the fence for a second maximum an over later. The nonchalant Baldock calmly hit 7 fours, including three balls in a row off the spin of Harry Everett. By the time Morgan-Huggett had removed Van Der Meulen LBW for 27 from 18 balls, the hosts had forced themselves into a much better position of 114-5 with three overs remaining. Baldock continued his aggression, finishing with red ink next to his name for a classy 38 from 24. He was nicely supported by a cameo from Porter (8 from 12). Thors finished on 150-6.

Thors opened with the Southern Hemispherian pairing of Slaviero & Van Der Meulen who kept things quiet during the opening couple of overs. Their pressure was rewarded when Slaviero struck in the third over, removing Griffiths with an inswinger which clattered the top of leg stump. An enforced bowling change after a pull up from Slaviero saw the skipper pick up the wicket of James Theedom in his opening overs, after he coughed up the easiest of catches to Slavierio, who departed the pitch with Theedom with an injury scare and was replaced by substitute fielder Stuart Tait. At the end of the powerplay, the visitors had stumbled to 15-1.

Stirling was introduced to the attack with a change of ends for Choules. Thors continued the squeeze with Matten succumbing to Stirling, well caught by Heard. The experienced Foan struck his first ball over the road and into the Orchard before Morgan-Huggett was stumped by some tidy right-handed work from Porter. At the halfway point in the chase, Sandford were facing a monumental task of 11 an over required, with the score at just 40-5.

Stirling picked up a couple more; Foan caught at long on by Coe, and Blake caught low down by Greed at short cover. Stirling finished with figures of 3-28, Choules with 2-20.

Another spin pairing of Pitt & Heard came into the attack, with Pitt having Harry Everett caught at square leg by sub fielder Tait. Heard then bowled James to leave the visitors on the precipice.

Chilcott was introduced for a rare trundle for the 19th over, and finished the game with his very first ball, bowling Morgan-Huggett with an inducker. The visitors all out for 86.

SCORECARD

The game was played in friendly spirits, with both sides retiring to the bar for drinks and pasties.

Thank you to PJ for umpiring, Alex Jopling for scoring and Keeley for cooking the food afterwards.

Thors take on Bovey Tracey in the Sunbelt Rentals Devon T20 on Sunday.

We are delighted to announce that we have signed young all-rounder Sam Jefferson from Whimple. Sam was present at our indoors nets prior to the season and we have now formalised the signing with the Devon Cricket League.

Sam has an impressive return of 803 league runs @ 25.9 (including a league hundred) and 57 league wickets @ 24, at the age of just 19.

Sam is currently travelling and will join up with the squad at the end of June. Find out more about Sam below:-

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Highest Score?
103

Best Figures?
5-6

Favourite Cricket Moment?
Hitting my first ton

Worst Cricket Moment?
Dropped a dolly off the last batter in the freezing rain then having to stay out in the field for an extra 6 overs

Funniest Cricket Moment?
We were tied going into the last over, I bowled 5 dots then a no ball that went sailing over the batters head to lose the game.

Favourite Cricket Tea Item?
Pork pie

Song Recommendation?
Human the killers

Tv or Film Recommendation?
Rush hour

Cricketing Idol?
Andrew Flintoff

Most used emoji?
😂

Other clubs played for?
Whimple & Exeter

What attracted you to Thorverton?
The players

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Skipper Jake Choules had the following to say about Sam’s acquisition:-

“Really excited to have signed Sam who is a player we have had our eye on for a little while. He comes with good recommendations from some of our younger players who have played school and representative cricket with him.

Whilst our senior teams are younger than many we come up against, we aren’t getting any younger. We have some great juniors coming through the system but they’re not all quite ready for adult cricket yet so our two signings this year have been made with this in mind.

I have no doubts that Sam will fit in well and contribute on the field. We hope he enjoys the rest of his time travelling before joining up with his later in the summer”.

Following last week’s comfortable win at home to Woodbury & NSC, the 2nd XI took the trip to Newton Poppleford to take on Sidmouth 3rd XI.

Saj Patidar won the toss for the hosts and elected to bat. Thors made three changes with the following taking to the field:- J.Farley, A.Daldorph, B.Coe, P.Stirling+, D.Baldock, G.Squire, G.Daldorph, B.Heard, J.Meredith, S.Tait, J.Stirling*

A new ball combination of George Daldorph and Stuart Tait was employed and made a promising start with Daldorph striking the top of middle stump to remove Pugsley with just the fourth ball of the game. Both our openers kept things tight until the left-handed Lewis at three for the hosts decided to counter-attack with intent after being dropped twice, taking the hosts to 56-1 after the first ten overs.

Heard and Coe were introduced to the attack, with Heard removing Cox LBW. Lewis brought up his 50 before chipping a caught and bowled back to Heard with the score on 77-3. Heard impressively took a two further wickets, including a second caught and bowled to remove the experienced Patidar, finishing with 4-27. Coe got in on the act taking 1-31.

The spin combination of skipper Jack Stirling and James Meredith quickly mopped up the tail taking a pair of wickets each. The hosts were bowled out for 128 after 34.3 overs.

After an eventful tea which included four unprepared players having to share a solitary fork, Farley and Daldorph got us underway in the chase. Thanks to a few extras and some dismissive shots from Daldorph, we found ourselves 27-0 after three overs, before Farley was bowled by left armer Lewis for 2. Coe had a brief stay at number three, before gloving a ball that leapt off the pitch through to Goodwin behind the stumps.

Paul Stirling joined Daldorph at the crease, just as his new girlfriend had just arrived. Impressively, the first two balls he faced consisted of being clean bowled by a no ball, then getting hit in the unmentionables trying to strike the resulting free hit to neighbouring Tipton St John. A lengthy time was spent on the deck, accompanied by a chorus of unsympathetic laughter from fielders & team mates on the sidelines. His day didn’t get much better when he was smartly caught by Patidar at slip for just 5, leaving Thors 47-3.

Daldorph was bowled by Hodgson for a well made 25 and Grant Squire followed for 1 shortly after to leave us in a state of bother at 73-5.

The experienced Baldock counter attacked with a quick fire 22 including four boundaries, before managing to dispatch a log-hop from young spinner Hext straight down the throat of deep square-leg. The youthful partnership of Bobby Heard and George Daldorph shored things up for Thors and saw us home, Daldorph finishing 30* from 30 balls; as the clock struck just 5pm, Heard ended the game with a 6 over deep backward square-leg to finish with a run a ball 12. Thors returned to watch the first XI with 20 points and leaves us second in the league, a point behind early league leaders Topsham St James.

Thank you to Alan Birmingham for umpiring and Bob Rice for scoring.

Next up is the visit of Braunton 2nd XI on Saturday.

Budleigh Salterton were the visitors for the 1st XIs first home league game of the season.

Thors lined up with: Greed, Fielder, Diamond, Van der Meulen, Robbins, H. Choules, Pitt, Hooper, Slaviero, J. Choules, Jopling

Choules won the toss and elected to field. Initially it looked to be the correct decision as Budleigh were reeling at 25-3. 2 wickets for Van der Meulen with thanks to diving catches from Harry Choules and one for Slaviero who cleaned up a Budleigh opener.

Budleigh rebuilt, however, and were 93-3 at the halfway point. Choules then took 2 wickets in an over including overseas player, Peiris, who was trapped lbw for 47.

Wickets continued to tumble and Thors had Budleigh 117-7. The visitors though continued to accumulate runs at a good rate, largely thanks to 84 not out from James Doble. Thorverton struggled to bowl in consitent areas, there were too many extras and the visitors ended up on 251-9.

After a fantastic tea thanks to Keeley Wells, Greed and Fielder set about the significant chase. Matters weren’t helped by Fielder being adjudged lbw for 0 early on.

However, Diamond and Greed saw out the rest of the powerplay until Diamond fell for 34. The score was 47-2.

Next came Thor’s most encouraging spell of the innings as Greed (47) and Van der Meulen (42) looked fully in control at the crease putting on 78 for the third wicket. However both fell in quick succession and Budleigh never looked back.

A collapse ensued and Thors fell from 125-2 to 151 all out. Nobody outside the top 4 made double figures.

SCORECARD

Thorverton learnt the hard way that things will be tougher in the A Division as opposition teams bat deeper and the bowling is a lot more consistent. With lessons learnt and 7 bonus points collected, it is a trip to city side Exeter next.

The Womens softball team were in action again on Sunday at Cullompton; the reverse of last weeks fixture.

There were debuts for Nic Fice and Cat Vincent with Thorverton lining up as:

Sophie Whiteley (C), Lisa May, Vanessa Wilson, Natasha Carbines, Cat Vincent, Nic Fice, Lucy Harget and Charli Harlow. 

There had been plenty of rain overnight resulting in a wet outfield but luckily the astroturf pitch could be used. Having won the toss, Thorverton took to the field. May opened the bowling followed by captain Whiteley who struck with her first ball – a sharp caught and bowled to dismiss her opposite number. Cullomptons first pair finished on 20-1.

Carbines and Wilson bowled the next set of 4 overs which were full of action. Quick fielding and an accurate throw from Harget into Carbines resulted in a run out in the first. The Cullompton pair then came back with a couple of boundaries in the second before the Harget and Carbines combo struck again with an identical run-out. The final over swung back to Cully with Coonick striking a four and a six! 48-3 at halfway.

The momentum continued with the home side through the overs of Fice and Vincent who were both bowling for the first time ever in a match, the score stood at 91-3 with four overs to go. Harget and Harlow were the final Thorvy players to bowl, but it was their fielding that created the wicket. A pinpoint throw from Harlow and quick hands from Hargetresulted in the third run-out of the innings. Similarly to the previous week Cullompton were aided by a few wides and finished on a total of 130-4.

Having taken four wickets the Thorverton chase started on 20. The May-Whiteley opening partnership worked well with both players striking two boundaries each and putting on a 30 without losing a wicket to take the score to 50. The accurate Cully bowling quartet soon got into their rhythm though and took the wicket of Wilson. Carbines counter attacked with a boundary before a mix up between resulted in a run out and the score at 72-2 at halfway. Fice and Vincent left the ball well to pick up the extras but the bowling was becoming increasingly hard to get away and a good catch in the field left the score at 95-3. The final pair of Harget and Harlow were left with a big ask of 50 from the final four overs. The intent was clearly there with a boundary off the first ball and quick running between the wickets. Harlow carved a four through the off-side but was then smartly caught the next ball. Hargetwent all out, smashing the ball straight and through the leg-side for three boundaries in the penultimate over.

The Cully captain took the final over and was right on target.The Thorvy pairs great running continued with three twos but it was Cully who had the final say with Harget out bowled going for another boundary. It was a valiant effort with 45 scored from the final four overs but it was not quite enough as Cullompton came out on top by 15 runs.

Cullompton – 130 runs scored + 5 wickets taken = 155

Thorverton – 120 runs scored + 4 wickets taken = 140 

Thank you to Cullompton for getting the game on and providing a fantastic tea – good luck for the rest of your season!

A definite improvement for the Womens team in their second league match with all eight players contributing with bowling, batting and in the field. More runs scored and wickets taken than the previous week, two debutants and plenty to take forward into training. 

We also bid a fond farewell to Charli Harlow as she moves away, good luck ‘up North’ and hope to see you soon!

At home, doing the shopping or down the pub and want to watch TCC in action? Well, now you can!

We are delighted to announce that from Saturday 14th May, we will be streaming live home fixtures (when available) on our YouTube channel. The club is now in possession of a Frogbox Streaming Kit, courtesy of Andy Pitt who won a competition on The Cricketer Magazine website.

The Frogbox is an impressive piece of kit, linking with live scoring apps to provide a live score display on the screen and automatically creating match highlights reels. The software also creates an opportunity to promote our valued sponsors on the streams.

The club will be streaming via the newly launched Thorverton CC YouTube channel, which you can view and subscribe to HERE.

Keep an eye out on our social media feeds for a streaming link on Saturday!

On Sunday the Station Ground saw Thorverton Womens team play their first ever home game in the Devon Women’s Softball League. Cullompton were the visitors on a sunny afternoon and having won the toss they put Thorverton into bat.

The Thorverton side lined up as: Sophie Whiteley, Natasha Carbines, Vanessa Wilson, Lucy Harget, Lisa May, SurekaKhan, Lucy Wells, Charli Harlow, Juliette Lea and Gemma Pollard.

Harlow and Harget were the first pair to bat and after a tight couple of overs they managed to get the scoreboard moving, with a number of quick 2s and a well struck 4 by Harget. They returned after their 4 overs with the score on 20 for no loss.

Whiteley and Pollard continued the flow of runs with Whiteley striking 2 boundaries and the pair running well. Cullompton struck back though with 2 wickets in the 8th over from the bowling of Diggle, adding 10 to the visitors score.

The momentum continued with Cully as they took another wicket in the 9th over. Smart field placings prevented the pair of Khan and Lea finding the boundary on numerous occasions and after the 12th over the score was 68 for the loss of 3 wickets.

Carbines and Wilson were the final pair in with Cullys bowlers now in a good rhythm. The scoreboard did keep ticking over though with Wilson in particular playing some confident shots through the off-side.

After 16 overs the score finished on 83 for the loss of 3 wickets, meaning Cullompton would start on 15.

Cully got off to a good start in the chase with 22 runs coming from the first 3 overs. Harget took a much needed wicket in the 5th over whilst only going for 1 run. The next overs from Carbines and Wilson only went for 3 in total and Thors looked like they were back in the game with the score at 45 now chasing 88. 

The momentum was soon back with the visitors though with a couple of well struck boundaries and the help of a few wides!

After 12 overs the score was up to 80 with no sign of letting up. A catch just went a miss and the final Cully pair finished with a flourish to come out deserving winners with a total of 107 to Thorvertons 88. 

Thorverton – 83 runs scored + 1 wicket taken = 88

Cullompton – 92 runs scored + 3 wickets taken = 107 

An encouraging game for the Womens side in their first league fixture, with good performances all round with the bat and in the field. Plenty to work on too, particularly the adaption to match bowling with new balls, no cones and a bit of wind!

Training resumes on Tuesday from 6:30pm with the return fixture vs Cullompton next Sunday at 10am. 

A big thank you to Paul Jordan for preparing the pitch, Ben Slaviero for umpiring, Jason Van Der Meulen, Keeley Wells and Alex Jopling for scoring, Dom Carbines for running the bar and all those who came down to support!

After a 32 year hiatus, Thorverton CC were back in the 2nd tier of the Devon Cricket League. It was a trip to sunny Torquay and the Recreation Ground which has previously hosted minor counties and first class cricket. No better place to start then.

The XI was: Chilcott, Fielder+, Diamond, Van der Meulen, Robbins, Pitt, Hooper, Daldorph, Slaviero, Jopling and Choules*.

Choules won the toss and elected to bat. A few eyebrows were raised by some of the home spectators, perhaps it was a brave call for a newly promoted club against the 2015 Premier Division champions.

The top order stuck to the game plan as the opening pair put on 33 until Fielder was cruelly run out. Another 30 was added by Diamond and Chilcott until the latter was unlucky to be adjudged lbw.

Thors had the momentum from here as Van der Meulen (21) and Robbins (28) upped the scoring rate. At 154-4 and plenty of overs left, a good score was on the cards.

Unfortunately a small collapse ensued taking the score to 169-8. However a gritty 16 not out by Jopling, supported by Daldroph and latterly Choules secured a score of over 200 and 4 bonus points.

Torquay required 204 to win and Tim Western and Chris Kelmere seeked to take advantage of the powerplay for the hosts. However after a few overs each, Slaviero and Van der Meulen found their stride and stemmed the flow of runs. This was followed up by Daldorph and Jopling who both went at less than 4 an over.

Torquay always seemed up with the required rate but in a similar vein to Thorverton, lost a clump of wickets going from 150-5 to 166-8.

With the hosts’ overseas player, Jiniv Joshi, still in they had a good chance. Slaviero cleaned up the opposition number 10 with the score on 189 and it was too close to call.

The hosts required 15 runs and Thorverton required one wicket.

Joshi took the initiative as he clearly didn’t want to leave it to the number 11. He skied one off the bowling of Choules, it was agonisingly dropped on the rope and it continued over for 6. He quickly finished the game from there and Torquay had the win.

SCORECARD

Thors came agonisingly close to starting off life in the A Division with a win but it wasn’t to be. The skipper remained proud of the team who showed a great account of themselves. The 8 bonus points may become very handy at the end of the season.

Under beautiful blue skies and the warm May sunshine, the Devon League got underway at Station Ground yesterday as the 2nd XI entertained Woodbury & Newton St Cyres 1st XI.

Thors lined up with Andy Daldorph, Ben Coe, Bobby Heard, Paul Stirling+, David Baldock, Nick Taverner, Jay Porter, James Meredith, Jimmy May, Jack Stirling*, Olly Coe.

The visitor’s skipper Nalin Chouhan won the toss and had showed no hesitation in electing to bat first with the wicket & outfield looking in pristine condition for early May. Olly Coe and Jay Porter formed the new ball partnership. W&NSC openers Purohit and Jackson took the game to the young opening pair and raced to a 50 partnership inside ten overs, taking advantage of the odd loose ball and gladly accepting a few extras.

A double bowling change in the form of Ben Coe’s medium pace and Bobby Heard’s off-spin was employed to counter the positive start and soon paid dividends with Purohit being bowled by Heard for 27. The bowling pair combined in the following over with Jackson cutting a rare loose ball from Coe to Heard at backward point, who pocketed a smart catch above his head to leave the visitors 62-2.

Jarman came to the crease with a considerable amount of intent and struck Coe for 4 before falling into the trap and slapping Heard down the ground to Daldorph at long on, who made a good deal of ground to take a tidy grab. Heard then trapped Edgehill in front just two balls later and suddenly the visitors found themselves 65-4. Coe and Heard kept plugging away and building pressure on Chouhan and Spurrell, which materialised in a running mix up which Olly Coe showed great composure at point to cooly find Paul Stirling and left him little to do behind the stumps. The pair bowled their allotted nine overs, Heard finishing with 3-24 and Coe 1-18, leaving the visitors at 91-5 after 26 overs.

Another double bowling change saw James Meredith and Jack Stirling keep it tight for the next four overs, with Stirling bowling his opposite number Chouhan for 26, then Moretta LBW for 0 three balls later. Martin Pearce brief 11 ball stint at the crease brought 16 runs before chipping Meredith to Taverner. The age-old superstition of Nelson had visited Station Ground and the batting side found themselves in a spot of bother at 111-8.

Becca Silk and keeper Chris Collyer added some resistance, sticking around for ten overs to frustrate Thors. Olly Coe returned to remove Silk for a well made 17, caught low down by Baldock at point. Collyer continued to frustrate the fielding side until the close of innings, surviving 67 balls for 29 not out. Olly Coe finished with 1-55, Meredith 1-33 and skipper Jack Stirling sent down his an economical 9 overs, 6 maidens, 2-9. W&NSC closed with a score of 164-9.

Daldorph and Coe opened up the Thors reply building a solid base of 35-0 after the first ten overs. The Woodbury opening pair of Pearce and Chouhan bowled tight lines but found the odd loose ball put away by a nonchalant Coe and an imperious Daldorph.

Coe struck the only 6 of the game off Chohan over deep square leg. The impressive Becca Silk offered some control with her off spin and had Daldorph caught and bowled down low with just her third ball, Daldorph departing for 17 from 41 balls. Heard joined Coe and the pair quietly went about their task, moving the score onto 98-1 at drinks.

After the drinks break, the pair attacked the change bowlers, with Coe bringing up his 50 in the 25th over. By now the pair had started to dominate the W&NSC attack; Coe commanding with drives, sweeps and cuts and an imposing Heard ably supporting him. The pair never looked troubled and cruised Thors to victory with over ten overs remaining. Coe finishing on a magnificent 85* from 110 balls, Heard cruelly just missing out on a half-century with 49* from 59.

SCORECARD

Thanks to the friendly Woodbury & Newton St Cyres for playing the game in the right spirit, to Alan Birmingham for umpiring and Isaac May for scoring. Next up for Thors is a trip to Newton Poppleford to take on Sidmouth 3rd XI.

We are pleased to announce that Mosaic Rwanda will be sponsoring our Women & Girls Soft Ball team’s shirts for the 2022 season!

Mosaic Rwanda is a newly established UK based charity. The charity is in the process of getting a bank account and you should be able to donate later on in the season. We will publish details when you are able to.

Mosaic Rwanda is working to make the world a more inclusive place. They champion the value, worth, potential and involvement of all people in society, particularly those facing challenges related to mental health, special educational needs and different forms of disability.

They do this by working in partnership with local people in Rwanda who are making a difference in their community. This involves grant-making but goes beyond the giving and receiving of finance; they partner, they encourage and they commit.

You can find out more about Mosaic Rwanda on their website HERE