After all of last week’s Men’s Saturday League matches fell to the weather, it was a successful sunny weekend for The Meadowmen.
During the week, the club has been taking part in a T20 Tournament, so far losing 1 and winning 1 this week against Tiddington. On Tuesday 11th we host MP Academy, with hopes of progressing to the next stage of the competition.
5-run win for the 1st XI
The 1st XI travelled to Oxford and after winning the toss, Skipper Mike Beard elected to bat first. On what was a tricky wicket, Beard (39) led the way with most of the top order chipping in with starts. Hassam Mushtaq’s (pictured below) quickfire 35 boosted Thame towards the end as they posted 189-9 from the 40 overs.
Faisal Ali and Chris Jeffcock removed both openers early, followed by Mushtaq’s 2-21 off 8 overs. With the game in the balance, Mike Higgs took 2 wickets, as Ali (3-24) and Jeffcock (2-27) came back well to see Oxford fall 5 runs short.
The 1s host Horspath next weekend at Church Meadow.
2s again fightback well to win
The 2s hosted Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts at Church Meadow, and losing the toss were asked to bowl first.
The visitors slowly batted their way to 72 before losing their first wicket to spinner Greg Jenkins, whose brilliant 5-51 took out the top and middle order. Opener Pablo Mukherjee (108*) scored the bulk of the runs, as the Nondies finished on 195-6 – James McStay picking up the other wicket.
In reply, Thame started terribly, finding themselves at 20-4. But, incredibly, from there Thame failed to lose another wicket as Rafe Dickie (86*) and Christian Warwick (85*) saw the boys home with 6.4 overs to spare!
The team travel to East Oxford next time out.
Huge win for flying 3s
Last Saturday Thame 3rds hosted Long Marston 3rds in Tier 5B of the Cherwell League. Choosing to bat on a good-looking school pitch, Manil Subesinghe (34) and Justin Avery (86, pictured below) took the score to almost 200, before the tailenders, Ian McStay (32*), Rob Tomlin (18) and Nick Humphries (16*) added the final gloss to the innings, which closed at 258-9 from 40 overs.
After a self-catered tea, Thame wasted no time in ripping through the Long Marston batting, with Rob Tomlin taking 3-7 and Humpers 3-8. The mismatch was rounded off by Max Muncaster (2-19) and Zed Khan (2-1), in 17.1 overs, with only Horn reaching double figures. Long Marston were out for just 38, so 3rds won by 220 runs.
Currently joint-top of their “tier”, the 3rds travel to Cropredy for the 2nd time this season on Saturday.
4s make it 4 from 4 for the Meadowmen
The 4th XI took to the road to also face an Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts side, their 3rd XI.
Winning the toss, Thame batted first with the top order all getting starts. Andrew ‘Jonty’ Johnston kicked on further scoring 39, before debutant Stuart Gray stole the show with 64*. A lower order collapse limited Thame in the closing overs, but the team were happy with 192-9.
Once again, Thame’s bowling was too strong for the opposition – Ed Mather opening up with 2-16. Trevor Spindler’s superb 3-9, and 1 wicket apiece for Chris Penny and Martin Wiles put Thame well on the way, before ‘Pistol’ Pete Higson (3-14) cleaned up the tail for a final total of 82. A special mention to Jonty for his great catch!
The 4s host Dinton 3 in their next fixture.
Women proud of performance despite defeat
On the Sunday, Thame’s Women hosted a friendly versus League rivals Binfield.
Binfield won the toss and opted to bat first, and with a strong batting lineup this proved a good choice. Megan Woodward (1-20) led the bowling figures and also got a run out, while there were wickets apiece for Sally Brentnall, youngster Ava Gabriele and Sarah Sanderson who also picked up a run out. Binfield posted a strong 194-6 from their 30 overs.
In response, it was difficult to keep up with the rate while wickets were falling – Captain Sanderson scored highest with 23, striking four 4s. Gabriele impressed further with her 18, but Thame were eventually all out for a gusty 113 against very good bowling.
Cookham Dean visit Church Meadow next Sunday.