off to a winning start
The club’s 1st XI under the guise of the club’s Friendly XI headed out of Torbay to take on Ipplepen CC Friendly XI with two debutants and two returnees.
Pre-match, the hosts readily agreed to display a poster for Evo promoting Opening Up Cricket, a charity which promotes mental health in cricket. Evo also handed out the first of the bat stickers promoting the charity to Harry Baxendale (don’t think that would be a surprise) and Tobias Delahunty.
TKCC won the toss and elected to bat – a note to the skippers and the sole umpire (sadly it must be reported TKCC were unable to provide one) please inform the scorers if the number of overs change. TKCC were all out for 208 in 41.1 overs, the innings built around the 78 scored by debutant, Jimmy Clifford, what on by his family. Clifford was supported by fellow debutant, Ed Smout Cooper with 28 and Josh Hunt, who was remarkably the grandad of team, with 26. The wickets were shared around by the Ipplepen bowlers but mention must be made of James Ingram with 2 for 26, Ingram’s father a former NZ test cricketer was watching the live stream from Down Under until it crashed.
Ipplepen were all out for 120 in 32 overs, with Jono Colegate, formerly on this parish, topping with 33 ably supported by Extras with 27. The star of the show with the ball for TKCC was returnee, James Tyler, with 5 for 29, Tyler was on a hat trick at one stage. Dad, Mark, was at the ground to report on this live.
Post match, as the photo will probably appear on FB, Evo was photographed with Ipplepen’s chair, Keith Wakeham, who he has sponsored for several years – the acquittance actually goes back pre-cricket. Evo though has sponsored Harry Baxendale.
With Camp Kelmere not present, the club’s new overseas player, Ben Pomare (and his girlfriend) joined Camp D&T which under the command of Bax’s better AKA Suzie contained the girlfriends / wives and off-spring of several former Torquay CC players.
Before the serious action for the 1st XI starts next weekend away to Kilmington CC 1st XI, the 1st XI travel into the South Hams this Thursday to take on a Stoke Gabriel CC XI in a T20 match.
With the 1st XI away next Saturday, the 2nd XI take centre stage at The Rec taking on Plymouth Civil Service and Roborough CC 1st XI. The 3rd XI is, also on their travels to take on Whimple CC 2nd XI which leaves the 4th XI to take centre stage at Kingskerswell taking on Yelverton Bohemians CC- 3rd XI.
Finally with the Big 700 approaching for Evo a multi part article on the history of his time with the club will be appearing on the website – from small beginnings it is now nearly 12,000 words. It wouldn’t be Evo though if there wasn’t one or two surprises in it and some powerful messages.