The mark of a truly great captain is one that can inspire not only through leading the team but by setting examples for everyone else to aspire to. Some of the recent greats to do just this, Michael Vaughan, Steve Smith, Andrew Flintoff, Andrew Strauss, Graeme Smith and Brian Lara. Well, you can now add Scott Thornton to that list. The skipper has been in fine form all season with the bat, topping the tables both at club and league. With Llandaff top before the game, all Tondu could do is win well and hope Vale CC did them a favour. Winning the toss in a must-win game, Scott decided to put the visitors into bat. It was soon to be become evident that the track was an absolute road with very little in it for the bowlers. Fielding became key. Do this well, you keep your opponents to a chasable total. Do it badly, and you are out of the game by the halfway stage. Whitchurch’s openers flew out of the traps, punishing even the good deliveries. Vanos and Pitts looked in formidable form and some fantastic fielding by the home side ensured that the visitors do not run away with this game.

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First team debutant, Kieran Davies, put in a Jonty-esque performance in the field, quickly putting doubt in the batsmen’s minds on ever taking his arm on. Diving stops by James Hardwick, Callum Smeaton, Scott Thornton, Ben Green and Ellis Major all frustrating the batsmen, who were not getting value for their shots. Scott Thornton decided to try something different bringing on James Hardwick and Ellis Major. Major only having played a handful of first team games, looked like a seasoned veteran with the composure he showed in his spell. Bowling his spell for what turned out to be a very economical three runs per over. Meanwhile, at the other end Hardwick was sent out of earth’s orbit more times than SpaceX with one particular shot from Pitts landing in Lidl’s car park. At the drinks interval, the opening pair were still looking in commanding form. Pitts getting his ton first, he then soon fell to the bowling of Ben Green, ably assisted with a catch from Ellis Major. The introduction of Richard Ready to the bowling attack dislodged the new batsman without troubling the scorers, Dai Rees taking the catch.

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The re-introduction of the new streamlined Elliott Rees soon saw him take the scalp of other centurion Chris Vanos for 113, Scott Thornton taking the catch. Green struck again with the visitors amassing 265-4 from their 45 overs. Knowing they were chasing a run a ball from the outset and hearing the Vale had posted a very defendable 227-6 against Llandaff, all was still to play for. Ben Green and Scott Thornton gave Tondu the perfect platform, putting on 108 runs before Green fell for 36 runs. James Hardwick joined Thornton but was bowled early on. Ross Evans added some stability, putting a partnership of 56 runs before Evans was caught off the bowling of Carey. This brought Mr Dependable to the crease, Richard Ready. He and Thornton put on 48 runs before the captain was caught from the bowling of Pitts. At 225-4, with the required run rate at five per over, the win was their for the taking. An injury to Richard Ready meant Scott Thornton was to return to the pitch to be his legs. James Leppard contributed some much needed runs before Elliott Rees was dismissed for no score. The experienced Dai Rees came to the crease, knowing he needed to stay in to allow Ready to chase down the total. Barely able to move, Ready duly obliged and the 30 runs he and Rees put on took Tondu to a four-wicket victory over the impressive Whitchurch team.

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News soon filtered through that Vale CC had beaten Llandaff meaning Tondu were crowned champions. A well-deserved title, topping a fantastic effort by the whole squad who contributed throughout the season. Congratulations to Scott Thornton who topped the batting charts and Richard Ready who topped the averages.

 

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Whitchurch-Heath First XI           265-4 (45 overs)

Vanos 113, Pitts 104

Ben Green 2-41

 

 

Tondu First XI                                 267-6 (44.1 overs)

Scott Thornton 137

Richard Ready 53 not out

Tom Pitts 3-54