After winning all three of their important games last Saturday, Thame’s players dedicated those wins to the popular figure of Liz Chubb, who died last Wednesday 23rd, in Margate Hospital, from what is understood to have been a heart attack.
Liz had been a regular scorer for the club in recent years and will be sorely missed for her sense of humour and her love of the game.
All three matches were preceded by a minute’s silence and all three teams wore black armbands during their matches.
1s dismantle lowly Reading to set up title-decider with Rowant
After winning the toss and electing to field, Mike Higgs (pictured below) was the star as he took the first four Reading wickets to fall in a fine spell of 10 overs, 4-27. Gamindu Kanishka and Hassam Mushtaq both took two wickets apiece as Reading were rolled out for just 100.
The Thame reply was emphatic. Openers Callum Russell and Will Sutcliffe put on 80 before the latter was the only man to fall, for 45. Russell was there at the close, unbeaten on 42, as Thame cruised home with 25 overs to spare.
Thame host already promoted Aston Rowant on the final day of the season, knowing that a win will guarantee promotion into division one.
2s defeat promotion-chasing Brackley
Losing the toss and getting put in to bat, Thame got off to a rocky start, with only skipper Matt Furness (25) getting many runs in the top order. However, a partnership of almost 100 runs between Justin Avery (53) and Alastair Thomas (46) helped to shift the momentum. Youngsters Ben Buckland (27) and Evan Davies (17) then built on this momentum in the final overs with some impressive boundary hitting, helping Thame to reach 203 from their allotted overs.
In response, Brackley’s batsmen ensured that their team were never behind the required run rate. However, Peter Tervet’s (3-39) dismissal of most of the top order managed to keep Thame’s hopes of winning intact. Just as it looked as if Brackley were going to edge it, dangerous opening batsman Eric Carpenter (95) was dismissed thanks to good bowling from Ben Buckland and sharp wicket-keeping from Dave Saunders. After this, tight bowling from Alastair Thomas (4-38, pictured below) helped to roll through Brackley’s tail end, leading them to fall 19 runs short of Thame’s total.
Thame 2nd XI are now fifth in the table, and seek to ensure a top half finish in their game against Dinton next week.
3s move to 3rd spot with 5th consecutive win
Having lost the toss, Thame were asked to bat first on a dry track. Banbury 5s made early inroads and the hosts were soon in trouble at 29-4. However, a brilliant century from Man of the Match, Guy Holmes (109*, picture below), who was well supported by skipper Vim Desai (44), swung the momentum back in Thame’s favour. The Holmes/Desai 5th wicket partnership of 144 runs out of a total of 191-6, allowed for a tactical declaration. The pick of the Banbury bowlers was F. Camm (2-60).
In reply, and tempted with an additional 4 overs, Banbury looked up for the chase but were soon pegged back losing their opener to a sharp catch by Olly Sutcliffe at 2nd slip off the bowling of Ian McStay. The dangerous Adnam Ahmed continued to set the pace but was reluctant to take singles and expose his weaker batting partners, opting instead to attempt big shots. Vim Desai (4-21) then brought himself on and despite being hit for a big six, kept his nerve and produced a delivery that turned, bounced and forced Ahmed to edge a sharp chance to 1st slip, into the safe hands of Ian Chappell. Thame made easy work of finishing the job off with great bowling from Neil Smith (2-12), Will Bruce-Morgan (1-24) and Lewis Ludlam (1-1). Keeper, Paddy Harris, was also very vigilant behind the stumps with handy glove work, producing 2 sharp stumpings. In the end, Thame won by 94 runs.
A victory in the final league game against Oxford Downs on Sept 2nd will guarantee 2nd spot and promotion.