With all post-league season fixtures now complete, the 2025 season was rounded off on Friday (26th September) with the Adult Awards Night at the clubhouse!
Director of Cricket Nick Fuller led the ceremony. The 4th XI were up first, with Captain Ed Mather taking the stand. The batting award went to absent Chairman Tim Dabbs and the bowling award went to popular clubman, but also absent, Shay Reading. The side struggled with the bat this year, evident in that Dabbs won the award having only batted 6 times for the 4th XI, scoring 220 at an average of 36.67. Reading took 18 wickets, with a best of 4-19. The 4th XI were sadly relegated from Division 8A, but Captain Mather was keen to press home the importance of the emergence of many juniors this season.
3rd XI Captain Nick Fuller, told the tale of another difficult season for the 3rd XI. The team were relegated from Division 7A on the final day, struggling to only 1 more win after a promising start of 2 wins from 3 games. Nick Humphries retained the Bowling Award with 23 wickets, and a best of 5-23. The Batting Award went to Guy Holmes who scored 331 runs at an average of 47.29, including a memorable 119 at home to Tiddington. Like the 4th XI, the 3rd XI can take the positive of having seen adult debuts for more promising juniors.
As is always the main event; 2nd XI Co-Captains Robbie Jackson and George Patey gave a rundown of the 2s’ season, with their usual great humour. The team floated around mid-table throughout the season, finishing 5th in the end, but with a brimming team spirit they will be looking for a promotion push next season. Wicketkeeper-batter Hugh Pilkington won the batting award with 458 runs at an average of 32.71, including four half-centuries. Newcomer Muhammed Amin won the Bowling Award, taking 24 wickets with his spin. There was also a thank you to the ever-present Sally Patey, who provided great support and was scorer for the team again this season.
In the absence of 1st XI Captain Hassam Mushtaq, it was Nick Fuller who passed on the skipper’s message. The team had a decent season, with a 6-match unbeaten run through July into August keeping the team out of the relegation scrap, finishing mid-table in 6th. Dinny Malan returned as the overseas pro and performed particularly brilliantly with the ball, taking a league-leading 51 wickets. As overseas cannot win awards, it was skipper Mushtaq who retained the bowling award with 22 wickets. Ubaid Kiani won the batting award with an incredible league-topping 638 runs at an average of 45.57. There were also mentions for Lloyd Paternott and Alex Browne who finished in the top 10 in the league’s batting. Lastly, there was a goodbye and a massive thank you to 1st XI scorer Tony Fitzgerald, who will be moving away from the area before next season.
The Women‘s side marked the end of the season in their own way this year. Sarah Sanderson‘s team finished 6th out of 8, as they did in 2024, in a tough Home Counties Premier League. 4 wins in a row in June and July were enough to keep the team away from relegation trouble. Harshi Wijerathna retained the Batting Award with 380 runs – the 8th highest in the league. Wijerathna shared the bowling award with newcomer Caitlin Shaw, with 21 wickets apiece.
Ian McStay presented the John Fulkes Award, given to a younger player who has performed at senior level. John Fulkes was a Chairman of the club and huge supporter of cricket, particularly youth cricket, in the town. After his passing just over 20 years ago, Thame Town Cricket Club created this award in his honour. This year, the award went to Alex Tervet! Alex has been at the club since he was 5 years old, and this season was a reliable batter around the top of the order for the 1st XI, while also hitting a ton in an appearance for the 2nd XI!
The Club Champion Award went to Justin Avery for his brilliant work as a junior coach, particularly as manager of our U11 boys. Justin puts a lot of time and effort into a busy U11s schedule, and as a proud Aussie, is always ready and willing to take charge when there is a BBQ at the club!
A massive thank you to all who helped organise the evening, and as always to those who make the club tick.
Chairman Tim Dabbs had this to add: “Congratulations to the entire cricket club on a hard-fought and rewarding season. Both the men’s and women’s teams delivered superb performances, with the men’s 2nd XI securing a strong league finish. While it was a tougher campaign for the 3rd and 4th XIs, a huge achievement came in the successful introduction of 11 new juniors into senior cricket, an investment in the club’s future. Though relegation was a setback, it stands as a necessary step in the journey of a growing and developing club. Well done to all involved.”
Here’s to 2026!
1st XI Batting Award – Ubaid Kiani
1st XI Bowling Award – Hassam Mushtaq
2nd XI Batting Award – Hugh Pilkington
2nd XI Bowling Award – Muhammed Amin
3rd XI Batting Award – Guy Holmes
3rd XI Bowling Award – Nick Humphries
4th XI Batting Award – Tim Dabbs
4th XI Bowling Award – Shay Reading
Women’s Batting Award – Harshi Wijerathna
Women’s Bowling Award – Harshi Wijerathna & Caitlin Shaw
Club Champion – Justin Avery
John Fulkes Award – Alex Tervet
Ubaid Kiani presented the 1st XI Batting Award by Director of Cricket Nick Fuller
Hugh Pilkington presented the 2nd XI Batting Award by 2nd XI Captains Robbie Jackson and George Patey
Muhammed Amin presented the 2nd XI Bowling Award by 2nd XI Captains Robbie Jackson and George Patey
Nick Humphries presented the 3rd XI Bowling Award by 3rd XI Captain Nick Fuller
Justin Avery was presented the Club Champion Award by Ian McStay
Alex Tervet was presented the John Fulkes Award by Ian McStay
A thank you to Sally Patey from the 2nd XI
Junior Coach and former Chairman Matt Swain stepped up to receive awards on behalf of absentees!