Rooney stars with the ball in 1s win
Thame 1st XI travelled to Great Brickhill in the Home Counties Premier League, and batted first having won the toss.
It was difficult going for Thame’s top order at 42-4, but there was some stability provided thanks to Ollie Burland’s 60. Hassam Mushtaq (39) and Andy Russell (24) lower down the order, helped Thame recover to 178-7.
From the off, Will Rooney (pictured below) ripped through Great Brickhill with a brilliant 4-16 from 8 overs. In a rain affected chase with Duckworth-Lewis involved, Brickhill continued to lose wickets to a Will Sutcliffe run out and a wicket apiece for Jonathan Jelfs and Mushtaq, ending on 86-7.
The 1s sit 6th out of 20 in the HCPCL pool, and host Banbury this week.
2s beat the rain and Oxford in thrilling chase
The 2nd XI hosted Oxford 2, looking to secure top spot in Tier 2A. Thame lost the toss, and fielded first.
Early wickets for James McStay (2-23) gave Thame a strong start. Oxford recovered to 80-2, before a flurry of wickets from the trusty spinners; Mike Higgs (3-33) and 1 for Dan Patey. Kelvin Burrows picked up a wicket late on as Oxford reached 144-7.
In very light drizzle, Thame’s response stuttered to 62-6, with Captain Dave Saunders (20) fighting well. Once he departed, Luke Hayes (16) supported Greg Jenkins’ superb 51* to take Thame close. 2 more wickets fell, as the game got tense, but Jenkins saw the team home in the 2nd last over with 2 wickets remaining!
The 2nd XI travel to Brackley for the Tier 2 playoff next week.
Top spot secured for unbeaten 3rd XI
The 3s hosted Westbury 3. With top spot in Tier 5B in sight, Westbury won the toss and asked Thame to bat.
Andy Jinman opened with 26, but the top and middle order struggled as the innings fell to 76-6. Youngster Max Muncaster (14) impressed with a solid supporting role, as Jordan Lee-Paskin starred in the recovery. Lee-Paskin (59*) and ‘Pistol’ Pete Higson (39*) smashed a 106 partnership to get Thame up to 206-7.
Westbury never got going in the chase, James Olliver taking an early wicket. It was then Ian McStay (4-16, pictured below) and Captain Vim Desai (3-9) who tore through the batting, before Zahoor Khan’s 2-8 had Westbury all out for 85.
The 3rd XI top Tier 5B and face Horspath 4 in the Tier 5 playoff next.
Unbeaten 4s top table despite scare
The flying 4s travelled to Charlbury 3, with the situation at the top of Tier 6 looking tight. Charlbury won the toss, bowling first.
It was a difficult and forgettable innings from a Thame point of view – Tim Dabbs top-scored with 26 batting at 3. Thame slumped from 61-5 to 81 all out, with 4 ducks along the way.
Up against it, Thame rallied! Trevor Spindler (2-6) and Rob Kenny (2-11) got the ball rolling, before Ed Mather (3-13, and a runout) removed the dangerman and put Charlbury in a hole. The hosts were all out for 54 in the end – a great fightback from the 4s.
Next week the team face Bicester & North Oxford 3, in the last match of the season, with top spot still up for grabs.
Women tie to share Trophy
Thame’s Women hosted East Anglia Veterans for the Rose Bowl trophy, with special guest umpire Enid Bakewell, the former England all-rounder. Thame won the toss and batted.
Captain Sarah Sanderson (32) and Beth John (24) got Thame off to a good start. Several Thame batters got starts, but it was Sally Brentnall who top-scored with 37. Thame posted an impressive 151-8 from their 40 overs, against former pros including Coral Handley.
In response, East Anglia lost early wickets to Sanderson, Bridget Cooper and a Cate Tiedeman runout, while Brentnall kept it tight. Beth John starred taking 4-47, including a triple-wicket maiden, to put Thame in the driving seat. Sue Benson took her first wicket for Thame, and Brentnall added a runout to her impressive day before Cumino’s late 35 took the visitors to scores level with 1 ball to go. To top off an epic game, Laura Bradley runout Cumino on that last ball to end the match as a tie!
Thame Women host Charlbury next Sunday.
The Saxons side took on 2 friendlies this bank holiday weekend, first losing at the picturesque Blenheim Palace on Sunday, then winning on Monday at Church Meadow against Ascott-under-Wychwood.
