Thame 1st XI travelled to Oxford in week 10, won the toss and bowled. Dinny Malan (3-49) had the hosts 0-2 after just 3 balls of the match. While Laird was immovable with 168* for Oxford, Captain Hassam Mushtaq and Ubaid Kiani spun 2 wickets apiece at the other end, to have the hosts 250 all out. Thame were struggling at 30-4 in the 2nd innings. A partnership of 102 from Player of the match, Kiani (74), and Lloyd Paternott (59) helped steer Thame to the draw on 184-7. The 1s are 7th and host 5th-placed Gerrards Cross next.
At Church Meadow, the 2s hosted Bledlow Ridge and opted to bat. Harry Thomas scored a typically composed 120 batting at 3, supported by Daniel Tervet (52) and Muhammed Amin (50*) to post 277-6. Robin Sutcliffe (2-55) removed both openers, but at 182-2 the visitors were in command. Ian McStay‘s brilliant 6-53 brought Thame back into it, and with 1 over remaining Bledlow Ridge needed 8 to win, while Thame needed 2 wickets. A six, followed by a wicket, meant all 3 results were possible on the last ball, in which Bledlow Ridge survived with a dot ball for the draw! Placed 6th, the 2s go to 4th-placed Bletchley next.
Thame 3s took on Bicester & North Oxford 3 at Lord Williams’ School and were asked to bat. Thame’s batters mostly struggled to get going, with Adam Culley (38) and Jeremy Batty (32) the main contributors in 103 all out. Thame got 3 wickets early, but there was little alarm for the visitors thereafter as they won by 6 wickets. The 3s are 9th go to mid-table Buckingham Town 4 next.
The 4th XI were at league leaders Aston Rowant 4, and were put into bat. Chairman Tim Dabbs opened with 74, while partners came and went at regular intervals, in 174 all out. Will Littlewood and Harshi Wijerathna took 2 wickets each, before young Cameron Clark led with 3-25, to take Rowant from 100-3 to 140 all out. Bottom, but in sight of those above, the 4s host 7th Long Marston 3 next.
On Sunday, Thame Women went to title-chasing Oxford, won the toss and batted. Megs Woodward (63) led from the top, supported by Harshi Wijerathna (27). At 123-2, the innings stuttered a little, but the team were still able to post 177-7. Wijerathna was then star with the ball, as she took out the top 4 on her way to 6-19. Oxford never recovered and fell to 104 all out. An impressive win takes the team up to 5th, as they go to 4th Falkland next.
It’s a busy week at Church Meadow this week: after a T20 loss at Tiddington last week, the 1st XI host Aston Rowant in a T20 this Tuesday (15th), before the Saxons face Kubota on the Wednesday. Then, on Friday, the Grey Ashes returns to Thame as England over 60s battle it out against Australia!
