After a mostly washed out week 9, all of our Saturday sides were able to take to the field this past weekend. The 1st XI hosted Chesham at Church Meadow, and were put into bat. Sammy Lion-Cachet (53) scored his first half-century for the club, Dinny Malan added 48, and the mid-lower order contributed well to push Thame up to 247-9. Ubaid Kiani got an early run out, before spinners MD Nazmul (2-18) and Captain Hassam Mushtaq (2-56) put Chesham under pressure. From there, former South Africa international Richard Levi proved immovable, as the visitors held on to a draw at 131-6. Now 9th, Thame go to bottom-side Bicester & North Oxford, where a win could be vital in the hopes of avoiding relegation.
Thame 2nd XI were away to Dorchester. After opting to bowl, Pete Tervet (2-22) started strongly, before the hosts’ middle order pushed on. Robin Sutcliffe (3-26) and Ian McStay (2-49) made Thame the happier of the two sides at 144-8, but from there Dorchester managed to recover to 199-9. Thame struggled to 38-3 in response. Brad Watson (34) and James McStay (23) played well in the middle order but wickets kept falling. Defeat looked a possibility, but the tail got to the safety of a draw at 172-8. Placed 5th, the team welcome 7th Bledlow Ridge next.
The 3s travelled to Bletchley Town 2 and chose to bowl. Nick Humphries (2-48) helped Thame get started, while Captain Chris Penny (5-40) led from the front with a brilliant 5-for. Harshi Malan (2-22) picked up later wickets to have Bletchley all out for 130. Nick Fuller (29) opened, as most of Thame’s batters got stars. It was Malan (34*) who starred to lead the team home by 6 wickets, to finally get a first win of the season and hopefully set off a sequel to last year’s Great Escape! The 3s leapfrog Bletchley into 9th and host leaders Chinnor next.
The 4th XI hosted Watlington 2 at Lord Williams’ School. The visitors chose to bat, which proved to be a bad decision when Trevor Spindler (4-9) and Fazlul Karim (4-26) ripped through the order to have Watlington all out for just 43. Charlie Anderson 14* led Thame to a 7 wicket win. Sitting in 8th, the 4s go to 9th Waddesdon 3 next.
Our Women’s side travel to Binfield next weekend, after a weekend off. While at Church Meadow, on Sunday (21st) the club is extremely excited to be hosting Oxfordshire v Middlesex in a one-day match!
