Week 3 of the Men’s League season, and Thame 1s headed down the road to take on Horspath. Thame were asked to bowl – Dinushka Malan (2-23) took an early wicket, before a strong 2nd wicket partnership for Horspath. Wickets fell fairly regularly after that, with Kelvin Burrows taking 4-42, to have the hosts all out for 224. Thame found themselves in a pickle at 88-6 in reply, and could not recover. Faisal Ali (24) top scored lower down the order, as the innings fell away to 145 all out. The 1st XI host Great Brickhill next week, who have also won 1 and lost 2 so far this season.
The 2nd XI hosted Oxenford at Church Meadow, won the toss and batted. Richard Carr opened with a typically quick 38, then at 4 down it was Adam Phippen who starred, hitting an unbeaten 85, including 3 sixes, to boost Thame to 230-5 from the 50 overs. In Response, Oxenford opener Rayden scored a superb 121, but at the other end wickets fell regularly with Skipper Robbie Jackson taking 4-38. With Rayden going strong, both results were still possible, until Robin Sutcliffe (3-51) helped polish up the tail to give Thame the win by 21 runs. After a first win of the season, Thame travel to Great Brickhill 2 next week.
Thame 3rds faced Marsh Gibbon away, and after losing the toss, bowled. The boys bowled well without luck – near drag ons aplenty, balls landing in no man’s land and even a 5 run penalty for the ball striking a helmet – but wickets were scarce for the most part. Pete Tervet (3-34) brought Thame back into it later on, but Marsh Gibbon posted 201-6 on a difficult pitch. The chase was one to forget. Against strong bowling, no batsmen reached double figures, as the 3s fell to 42 all out. Looking for a first win of this season, the team host Buckingham Town 3 next week.
Thame 4s hosted Fringford at Lord Williams’ School. Thame opted to bowl first and took early wickets. Max Shayler and Ed Mather took 2 wickets each, while middle order big hitting helped propel the visitors. Leanne Harris (3-30) then mopped up the tail, as Fringford posted 238. In reply, Sujoy Bhowmick (35) led an opening partnership of 66. Sadly, after the first wicket, Thame collapsed with 5 ducks to 103 all out. The 4s travel to Chesterton next week, looking to get their season going.
On Sunday, table-topping Thame Women travelled for a double-header in the Super 8s against Radlett, followed by Abbotts Langley. Radlett sadly had to concede, so it was all or nothing versus Abbotts Langley! Batting first, Thame racked up their highest net score of the season so far, a huge 368, with Emma Page (31) and Catherine Hawkes (23) leading an impressive scorecard. With the ball, Thame picked up 8 wickets and restricted the runs superbly to limit the net score to a low 219 – Leanne Harris, Harshani Malan and Mel White took 2 wickets each. Thame sit top of the table after 7 wins from 8 games, and with just a few games remaining, are battling it out with Beaconsfield to be crowned Winners of Group C! The team travel to Brockhampton for the T20 Plate Quarter Final next week.
Thame Saxons hosted Wendover in a 40 over friendly. Charlie Anderson (55) and Matt Furness (45) helped Thame to 198-6. Will Littlewood took 2 early wickets, but Ealand’s 98 not out helped lead Wendover home by 7 wickets in the 35th over.