With 3 Men’s League rounds to go, our teams find themselves in fights for survival! Thame 1st XI faced top of the league Harefield at Church Meadow, won the toss and batted. Thame started solidly again reaching 60-0, but from there collapsed to 100-6. Dinushka Malan (51) led the fightback, and helped Thame up to 171 all out. The Meadowmen picked up the early wickets of 2 top performers in the league this year, and at 23-3, Thame were pumped. A strong 4th wicket partnership helped Harefield build, before Malan (4-25) took more victims. However, Thame couldn’t press on from there, and the visitors reached the target by 3 wickets. The 1s slide down to 8th place, needing 11 points for survival, they face bottom side Tring Park at Church Meadow next.
The 2nd XI travelled to Wolverton, for a key relegation clash. Thame won the toss and bowled. Most Wolverton batters got starts, as Thame found wickets elusive for periods. Returning club legend Chris Jeffcock led the figures with 2-38, and young Alex Tervet took 2-58, but an unbeaten 7th wicket partnership of 80 boosted Wolverton to 283-6 from the 50 overs. Tervet opened with 40, but lost partners regularly. Fellow young gun Josh Towell struck 30 batting at 6, but wickets continued to fall and Thame fell to 170 all out. Wolverton push away in 8th place, while Thame in 9th need 2 wins from the final 2 games to have any chance of 8th place. The 2s travel to 6th-placed Westcott next.
Thame 3s hosted table-toppers Westbury 2, won the toss and bowled. Westbury went for it from the off, but Thame picked up regular wickets thanks to Chris ‘Winkle’ Penny (3-32) and some excellent catching. At 89-6 Thame had Westbury worried, but from there the visitors put several strong partnerships together. Zach Harris took 4-65, but Westbury were able to post an impressive 275. Facing a tough target against strong bowling, Paddy Harris (22) tried to get the chase going, but all other batters failed as Thame were all out for 79. The 3s now have 2 games to pick up an elusive win, and host promotion chasing Dinton 2 next.
The 4th XIs match away at Westbury 3 was forfeited by the hosts, giving Thame the 25 points. Placed 8th, Thame travel to 9th-placed Dinton 3 and can guarantee 8th with a win.
League Champions, Thame Women, hosted Wargrave in the final match of the league season. Thame won the toss and bowled. Wargrave started strongly, reaching 59 before losing the first wicket. Only 2 more wickets fell to Ava Gabriele (2-48), as Wargrave posted 182-3 from the 30 overs. Cath Hawkes (28) opened, but usual key batters could not get going as Thame lost wickets regularly. Mel White and Emily Neighbour steadied the ship scoring 21 each, but once they departed Thame were staring defeat in the face at 146-9, with 37 still needed from only 4 overs left. Zara Wyatt then batted heroically, hitting 33* off 35, ably supported by Gill Kelleher. Several fruitful overs took it down to 2 runs needed to win from the last ball, where Wyatt managed a single and the game was tied! Thame now face Division 2 North winners Hitchin in a promotion play off at Church Meadow on Sunday 4th September!
Zara Wyatt scored 33* to pull off an exciting and unlikely tie
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