The business end of the season is in full flow, with our teams having a lot still to play for. The 1st XI continued the fight for survival at home to bottom-of-the-league Tring Park. Opting to bowl, Dinushka Malan (6-20) again opened with devastating affect, accompanied by Kelvin Burrows (2-41), as Tring slipped to 62-8. The visitors managed to get up to 136, which was revised to 120 after rain. Callum Russell (46*) and Ollie Ebsworth-Burland (40*) then proved immovable as Thame won by 8 wickets. The Meadowmen stay 2nd bottom and next head to Oxford, who they are 16 points behind.
First-place Thame 2nd XI headed to 3rd-place Leighton Buzzard. Batting first, last week’s hero Matt Furness (63) starred with Jack Aston (62), as Thame posted 245-8. In a rain-affected match, the hosts were given a reduced target, and despite Mike Higgs‘ wicket, they reached 129-1 to win by 33 on the D/L method. Thame’s lead at the top is cut to 4 points over Leighton Buzzard.
The 3s took on Aston Rowant 4, away. In the field; Chris Penny took 4-14 off 7.2 overs, backed up by 2 each from ‘Pistol’ Pete Higson, Nick Humphries and Rob Tomlin, as Rowant were bundled out for 104. Richard Carr (28) opened up, before Jordan Lee-Paskin (21*) brought Thame home by 7 wickets in just the 24th over. Sitting 3rd, Thame play 2nd-place Wantage & Grove next week.
The injury-hit 4s went up against Dinton 3 at Lord Willliam’s. Zed Khan (2-21) opened with spin, while Rob Kenny and Danny Thompson also took 2 each, but Dinton managed to recover from 33-4 to post 139-9. Josh Towell (61) scored his 3rd fifty in 4 games to take Thame close, before a late flurry of wickets. But Thame won by 4 wickets in the 33rd over, to stretch the unbeaten run to 9.
Thame’s Women faced Binfield at Church Meadow on the Sunday. Bowlers Zara Wyatt and Leanne Harris took 2 wickets each, but a 97-partnership for the 3rd wicket helped Binfield post 160-5. Catherine Hawkes (32) and Megs Woodward (24) led the chase, as Thame chipped away at the target while losing wickets. Michelle Wells‘ late 22 gave hope, however her demise meant Thame were 141 all out. The Women still stay 2nd place, with 2 games to go.
Next Week’s Fixtures
Saturday
Oxford v 1st XI
2nd XI v Oxford 2
3rd XI v Wantage & Grove
Bletchley Town 2 v 4th XI
Sunday
Falkland v Women’s XI