After an unbeaten July, Thame 1st XI hosted Datchet at Church Meadow. The visitors chose to bat but struggled – Dinny Malan took out the top 5 on his way to 6-43, extending his lead as Home Counties Division 2’s top wicket taker. The middle order rallied, before Thomas Wyatt took 2-13 late on to skittle Datchet for 231. In form Ubaid Kiani opened with an unbeaten 82, joined by Alex Browne at 4, who smashed 86 from just 49 balls to take Thame close – Browne is now leading run scorer in the league. Player of the match Malan came in late on and hit a 6 to give Thame the win by 6 wickets! Placed 5th, the team go to table-topping Slough next.
The 2s travelled to Waddesdon and were put into bat. Co-Captain George Patey (101) hit a brilliant ton at the top of the order, and in a 104-run partnership with Harry Thomas (55) helped Thame to a strong 260-5 from the 53 overs. Archie Gardner (3-55) led the attack, and at 61-5 Thame were clear favourites. A 109 partnership for the 6th wicket gave the hosts hope, before Muhammed Amin (3-35) then brought the win in sight for Thame. Frustratingly, the final wicket didn’t come and the game ended in a draw. Thame gain 20 points, taking them up to 5th, and they host 8th Middleton Cheney next.
Thame 3rds hosted fellow relegation-fighting Bletchley Town 2 at Lord Williams’ School. After being asked to bat, Thame lost the top order cheaply. Pete Tervet led the scoring with 20 batting at 9, which got the score up to 111. Early breakthroughs got Thame off to a great start. Nick Humphries (5-23) took a five-for, as the wickets column was chipped away at, but it was not enough as Bletchley won by 3 wickets. The 3s slip back into the relegation zone and go to runaway leaders Bradenham next.
It was an away trip to Westcott 2 for the 4th XI, who also lost the toss and batted first. It was a tough day with the bat, as Thame were all out for just 53 – Mukil Kamal showed defiance with an unbeaten 22. Matilda Berns took 2 wickets for Thame, but Westcott reached the target quickly for the loss of 4 wickets. The 4s fall back to foot of table and host 6th-placed East Oxford 3 next.
Off the back of 4 league wins in a row, Thame Women travelled to Beaconsfield and opted to bat. The top 3 all fell with only 15 runs on the board. Harshi Wijerathna (35) led a middle order fightback, as Thame posted 120. Thame got one of the openers for a duck, but a 58 run partnership then put Beaconsfield in command. Wijerathna (3-22) and Helena Purushothaman (2-18) brought about a flurry of wickets, but the hosts were able to reach the target for the loss of 7 wickets. Sitting in 5th, the team host 6th Stony Stratford next.
