Thorley 1s v Abridge 30th July 2016

written by Gareth Stephens, photos by Graham Woolmer

It was a big day for Thorley cricket club on Saturday as The Gannets swept aside struggling Abridge with a comprehensive 117 run victory to move to the top of the table, 14 points clear of 2nd place Braughing.

Batting first, Thorley, without several regular first team players, lost both openers with only 30 runs on the board before Matt Drury and Nathan Forsyth came together. Both batsmen reached their centuries in quick time, putting on 180 for the third wicket in the space of twenty overs. Aussie left-hander Forsyth (102) fell first but not before he had taken the Abridge bowlers to task, smashing seventeen 4's and three 6's. Drury went next, having hit a total of twenty-two 4's in his score of 105. Dave Heard chipped in with a breezy 39 (including six 4s) helping the home side to a formidable 322.

Visitors Abridge were never in the hunt. Needing to score at nearly 7.2 an over in their run chase, they managed just 16 from the first 6 overs, as they were restricted by some miserly Gannets bowling. Jordan Griggs was the pick of the home attack taking 3-38 from his ten over spell, while Drury completed a fine match taking 2-20 with his wily off-spin as well as snaring two catches.

Everyone contributed for Thorley with Jack Lamb picking up two wickets and there was even a wicket apiece for the occasional medium-pace of opening batsman Mark Bridle and all-rounder Dominic Kennan who took 1-21 and 1-20 respectively.

Thorley travel to Essendon this Saturday knowIng they will be in for a much tougher match after the home side put one over on previous league leaders Cloghams at the weekend.