Defeat for the 1st XI despite Mushtaq 6for
Thame continued their poor form against in-form Shipton-under-Wychwood last Saturday at home. Thame won the toss and asked Shipton to bat. Thame bowled well reducing Shipton to 84-5 but their overseas professional Sanklecha scored 51 to steer them to 194 all out in their last over. Hassam Mushtaq (pictured left) was pick of the Thame bowlers taking 6-77.
In reply, Thame started well putting on 31 for the first wicket, but were then reduced to 60 for 6 by Sanklecha, who finished with figures of 7 for 47, as Thame were dismissed for 125. High-flying Horspath are the opponents at Church Meadow on Saturday 23rd, who were beaten by Thame in the first round of the Bernard Tollett T20 trophy last month.
A draw for the 2nd XI, but it could have been worse!
The 2nd XI went to Didcot, in the shadow of the ill-fated power station, hoping for a win to keep their title chase on track. Losing the toss, they were put into bat and started shakily against good swing bowling. Thankfully Jimmy Nielsen (45) and skipper Chris Jeffcock (29) steadied the ship with a stand of 71. Thame were scoring quickly but getting out to poor shots and it was mainly thanks to 38 from Justin Avery they managed to reach a below-par 207 all out from just 43.3 overs, on a fast outfield.
With Didcot 2nds needing 208 from the remaining 56 overs, Thame were going to need to fight all the way. With Jeffcock bowling out of his skin for 18 overs (18-1-56-3), well supported by John Phippen’s miserly spells (16-6-32-0), Didcot looked out of it at 125 for 5 in the 43rd over. Then Redman hit 62 not out off 39 balls to set up the tightest of finishes, with Thame just holding on and Didcot ending up on 205 for 8 off their 56 overs. The 2nds travel to Abingdon Vale on the 23rd for a crucial 1st vs 2nd contest.
3rd XI back to winning ways at Stokenchurch
Thame ended their run of draws with a well-needed victory away to Stokenchurch 2nd XI. Thame bowled first with Will Bruce-Morgan again starting well, picking up 2 for 25 in the opening spell. Scott Chappell took the prize wicket of their opener, so Thame were happy with the hosts being 54-3. But a 50 partnership started to build a decent score, before the returning Pete Tervet took the important wicket and broke the partnership. Sam Nicholls took 1 for 12, and George Patey (pictured left) stole the show with 4 for 53, to get Stokenchurch all out for 153.
Thame lost 3 wickets for around 50 runs also, to put the game in the balance. Ian Chappell opened this week with 36, then another couple of wickets meant Thame were 99-5 needing a strong head or two to see the game home. George Patey (53 not out) and Paddy Harris (30 not out) provided the goods and saw Thame to victory with just over 7 overs to spare. Thame are still 2nd in the league and head to league leaders Buckingham Town on the 30th after a weekend off.
Man of the match was George Patey for his 4 wickets and unbeaten 50.