1s lose to strong High Wycombe side
Thame 1st XI hosted High Wycombe, at Church Meadow – sponsored by J.Bennett & Son Insurance Brokers. Given the overcast and damp conditions following a heavy overnight shower, Thame won the toss and elected to bowl. However, thanks to a mixture of inconsistent bowling, a couple of missed chances and some powerful hitting, High Wycombe found themselves 229-0 until Thame finally made the first breakthrough. More aggressive batting followed, as Wycombe declared on 304-3 off 54 overs – Kalim Khan picking up 2 wickets.
Thame started positively in reply, finding themselves 90-1 with Gamindu Kanishka (46, pictured below) and Will Sutcliffe (42) going well, however a flurry of wickets followed and the Thame chase spluttered, with only Hassam Mushtaq (39) showing much resistance as Thame were finally bowled out for 167 in 46.5 overs, falling to a 137 run defeat.
Although not the desired result, with 5 regular players missing, it was a spirited performance from a relatively inexperienced young side, some emerging positives as Thame enter the real crunch period in their bid for survival.
2nd XI return to winning ways
Thame 2nd XI travelled to Long Marston, seeking to bounce back after back-to-back defeats. Winning the toss and electing to bat, Thame got off to a strong start with a second half-century on the trot from in-form skipper Matt Furness (52). This strong start was then capitalised upon by the middle order trio of David Saunders (37), Jack Aston (45) and Guy Holmes (29), propelling Thame to a very competitive total of 255.
Although Long Marston got off to a quick start, spin twins Alastair Thomas (5-56, pictured below) and Daniel Patey (4-22) tore through the batting line up to bowl the opposition out for only 117.
This win means that the 2nd XI are sitting pretty in the promotion places, and face Charlbury at home next week.
3s pick up fourth straight win
Having won the toss, Bledlow Ridge 2s were asked to bat first at Lord Williams’ School. The Thame seamers, including Nick Humphries (who responded to an SOS last minute Call-up, despite being literally days from being a dad for the second time) and Rob Tomlin made early inroads to reduce the visitors to 40-3. Sadly, a stubborn 5th wicket partnership of 131 from Maunder (83*) and Dryden (57*) managed to post 177-5 in the allotted overs. Humphries (pictured below) was the pick of the bowers with 4- 25, well supported by Tomlin and Max Muncaster. The hot weather was a brutal zapping 12th and 13th man for the opposition, but the youthful and energetic Max kept the fielding standard at a top A+ grade.
In reply, a dominating partnership of 131 from Justin Avery (80, pictured below) and Ian Chappell (49) ensured the result was never in doubt. It was left to the young Lewis Ludlam to smash two 4s from 2 balls to finish the game off. Thame 3s picked up a 4th consecutive win thus stay in 2nd place.
Thame 3s next have a tricky away tie against Oxford 4s, who have found some good form and rhythm.
4s defeated heavily by strong Westbury side
Thame travelled to Westbury 3s, sitting just behind the hosts in the table. Thame lost the toss, and were asked to field at a ground featuring a very short boundary on one side, and a very long one on the other. Shay Reading and Josh Edworthy kept it tight upfront, but it was Joe Phippen (1-41) and Patrick Willasey-Wilsley (2-64) who got things going for Thame. 3 Westbury batsmen hit quick 50s, before Reading (4-40) and Edworthy (1-46) returned to bring a flurry of wickets at the end. Westbury hit an imposing 249-9.
Against strong bowling, Thame struggled. Phippen (16) opened with Thame’s top score, but Thame fell to a dissapointing 71 all out from 32 overs.
The 4s look to bounce back at home to Bicester & North Oxford 3 next week.
2 wins from 2 League games for the Women’s Team
In their return fixture against Cookham Dean on Sunday, Thame opted to field first and a strong team effort, few fielding errors and a variety of dismissals made for an exciting first innings with Cookham Dean all out for 95 in 25 overs. Lina Budde-Manning (2-19) opened the bowling for Thame and removed the opening batter for a golden duck, swiftly followed in the same over with an LBW. The pressure firmly on, Thame got a run-out before Sally Brentnall’s 2-7. More great bowling hampered Cookham Dean, restricting their runs and picking up more wickets – Mel White (2-16), Antonia Barnes (1-19) and Beth John swapping her keeper’s gloves, with a superb 3-3. The innings ended with a further wicket from Brentnall. Solid fielding on the boundary, and 4 good catches left Thame in a confident position at tea.
Coming to the crease, Thame’s batters were too much for the Cookham Dean side, and victory came quickly with the target of 98 reached in just 13 overs thanks to Barnes (8 not out), Claire Morris (13) and a masterful performance from Beth John (62). Thame significantly outplayed their opponents, winning by 9 wickets.
