Our Saturday sides are into the final third of the league season now, with plenty still to play for. The 1st XI played at home to promotion chasing Gerrards Cross and chose to bat. New signing Lloyd Paternott scored a masterful 130 on debut, with the strongest support coming from Dinny Malan (35), to take Thame to 247 all out. Gerrards Cross put on 123 for the first wicket, eventually ended by Captain Hassam Mushtaq, who took 4-71 in a spirited Thame fightback. Malan added 2 wickets, to get the scenario down to 19 needed with 3 wickets remaining; but sadly Thame could only bag 1 more to lose by 2 wickets. Strong bonus points keeps the relegation fight with 4 other teams very tight, as the team go to leaders Harefield next.
Thame 2s headed down the road to Tiddington 2 and were asked to bowl. Pete Tervet (3-50) added more wickets to his growing season haul as the hosts reached 100-4. From there, Ian McStay (3-26) and Thomas Wyatt (2-17) took over to have Tiddington 158 all out. George Patey (31) led from the top as Thame were fairly happy at 70-3, before falling to 109-9. Bowling heroes Tervet and McStay put in a monumental effort, as the final wicket partnership was the biggest of the innings, but they fell just short all out for 147. The 2nd XI are in 6th place, with promotion and relegation equally outside possibilities, and host promotion chasing Bletchley next.
At Lord Williams’ Upper School, the 3rd XI hosted Long Marston 2 and bowled first. Ross Handley and Nick Humphries opened with 2 wickets each, before Captain Chris Penny took 4-44 to put Thame in a good position. The visitors’ tail wagged to get the total up to 140, with Harshi Malan (2-23) taking late wickets. Thame lost early wickets in reply. Young Daniel Tervet (33) batted maturely but lacked support as the innings fell to 86 all out. With survival looking more difficult, the team go to 7th Leighton Buzzard 2 next, desperate for a win.
The 4th XI travelled to Tiddington 3 and were put into bat. Thame lost early wickets around Charlie Anderson who stood strongest with 16. A middle order collapse of 5 wickets for 5 runs ended hopes of a recovery as the team posted 77 all out. Trevor Spindler (5-26) set about a miracle, removing the top 4 cheaply, including one with the first ball of the innings. The game was in the balance at 52-6 but from there, Tiddington were able to get home. The 4s are 8th and host leaders Leighton Buzzard 3 next.
Thame Women were at home versus Stony Stratford on Sunday in the Home Counties Premier Division. Thame were asked to bat and Harshi Malan (51) led again from the front. With support from Helena Purushothaman (40), the team posted 143-8 from the 40 overs. Malan picked up 2 wickets on her way to 3-21, but at 94-3, Stony Stratford looked likely to reach the target. Purushothaman came on and took 4-20, alongside Natasha Carter‘s 2 wickets in her 11 balls to give Thame a brilliant win by 10 runs! The team are in 5th place and have a weekend off next week.
