The sweltering summer weekdays gave way to heavy rain this past weekend, putting a pin in the 1st XI, 2nd XI and Women‘s matches before they even started. Amazingly, our 3rd and 4th XIs did both manage to play!
We start with the 4th XI, as they welcomed Long Marston 3 to Lord Williams’ School. Thame won the toss and bowled first. Trevor Spindler (3-14, including 10 maidens) and Sam Ward (3-45) helped get the top order out cheaply and kept a lid on the Long Marston innings in the main. It was strong 6th and 8th wicket partnerships that got the visitors up to 135-7. In a to and fro chase, wickets fell at regular intervals around Chairman Tim Dabbs‘ 41, while the target never looked out of reach. In a tense finish, the match got down to 1 ball to go, 1 wicket remaining and the scores level. A run out put pay to any quick single attempt, and the game was tied! Rising off the bottom to 9th, the 4s go to now bottom side Great Brickhill 4 next.
The 3rd XI had a trip to Buckingham Town 4, lost the toss and were asked to bat. The top order got starts, but a collapse from 80-1 to 86-5 stuttered the innings. Daniel Fuller hit a brisk 27, to help Thame recover to 143-7 from the rain-reduced 38 overs. Nick Humphries (5-39) took out the top 4 on his way to a brilliant five-for, and at 61-6 Thame were on top. Buckingham managed to steady the ship from there, and despite Jeremy Batty spinning 2 wickets, the hosts reached the target by 3 wickets. The 3s stay 9th and host 6th-placed local rivals Tiddington 3 next.
This weekend, the 1st XI (7th) go to 8th-placed Falkland, the 6th-placed 2nd XI host leaders Aston Rowant 3, while on Sunday 5th hosts 3rd as the Women take on Charlbury.
