This week saw the last of the win/lose format matches, as the 1st XI hosted Harefield at Church Meadow. After opting to bowl, Dinny Malan (2-36) got an early breakthrough, but his 2nd wicket came much later after a 205 partnership. Ogden scored 134 in 285-4 for the visitors. Ubaid Kiani opened with 93 for Thame, but the rest of the top order fell cheaply. Malan (39), Jonathon Jelfs (34) and Will Feeney (31) smashed 10 sixes between them to accelerate and give Thame a chance, but after their demise the tail fell away to 231 all out. Now 9th, the team go to 5th Amersham in win/lose/draw format next week.
The 2nd XI went to Bletchley Town and were invited to bowl. Pete Tervet again bowled with incredible economy, taking 1 wicket for 15 runs from his 10 overs. Captain Robbie Jackson led the line with 2-30, as wickets fell at regular intervals throughout. Ross Handley added 2-35 and helped restrict to 168-9. Thame lost 4 of the top 5 for single figures, with a returning Christian Warwick (36) the only exception. Struggling at 92-8, Jackson (56*) played a Captain’s innings to make winning a possibility, but sadly the last wicket fell in the final over, just 10 runs short. The 2s slip to 6th and next host 2nd place East Oxford 2.
At Lord Williams’ School, the 3s hosted Leighton Buzzard 2. Thame were asked to bat. Richard Carr (43) again opened strongly, while newcomer David Nieman scored 36 in the middle order to give Thame their highest total of the season at 177-8. Captain Chris Penny (2-22) removed both openers, but the top order all contributed for the visitors. With 6 wickets down, but balls running out, Leighton Buzzard managed to reach the target in the final over. With a first win agonisingly close, the 3s host 3rd placed Great Brickhill 3 next.
Thame 4s travelled to Leighton Buzzard 3 and chose to bowl. The hosts batters all got starts as they looked set to build a big score. Will Littlewood came on later to take 3-38, but Buzzard managed to reach 200-8. It was then an innings to forget with the bat; Thame were all out for 40, Paddy Harris top-scoring with 17. The team fall to 8th and go to bottom side Chearsley 3 next.
On Sunday, Thame Women hosted Oxford at Church Meadow in the first 40 over league game of the season. Thame put Oxford into bat, and had a tough day in the field as opener Genny Porter scored an incredible 169*, to help a strong Oxford post 323-2. Megs Woodward returned the best figures of 1-66. Leanne Harris (22) helped Thame get off to a solid and steady start in reply, but after the openers departed the rest of the order collapsed under strong bowling to 77 all out. The team have a week off next week.
Next Sunday, our friendly side, the Saxons, host Sydenham at Church Meadow!
Ubaid Kiani scored 93 against Harefield
