This weekend saw the first Saturday of the Win-Lose-Draw format, where the 1st XI hosted Datchet at Church Meadow. After choosing to bowl, Dinny Malan (4-38) and Robin Sutcliffe (2-19) had the visitors in trouble, before skipper Hassam Mushtaq (4-7) ripped through the lower middle order to have Datchet all out for just 78. After a wicket first ball and then wobbling at 43-4, Alex Browne (33*) counter-punched with Farid Butt (22*) to take Thame home by 6 wickets. The 1s rise above Stoke Green into 8th, and travel to them next.
Thame 2s headed to Horspath 3 and were put into bat. On a difficult afternoon, George Patey (26) top scored in 63 all out. Thame picked up a couple of early wickets, but eventually lost by 7 wickets. Now 7th, the team host bottom side Wolverton next.
At Lord Williams’ Upper school the 3rd XI welcomed Risinghurst 2 and chose to bowl. Aaron Watson (3-10) took out the top 3, before Nick Humphries, Loe Fasanya and Kulveer Singh took 2 wickets each to have Risinghurst 137 all out. Guy Holmes hit an unbeaten 50 as Thame eased to the win by 5 wickets, with more than 3 overs to spare. Now 5th, the 3s go to 3rd Oxenford 3 on Saturday.
The 4ths were at Gully 2 and were put into bat. Chairman Tim Dabbs (50) alongside Nick Fuller (25*) took Thame to 109-1 before a stuttered end, posting 139-5 from the 42 overs. Ben Batty (3-35) and Trevor Spindler (2-20) kept Gully in check, as they eventually ran out of overs, finishing on 129-7. Thame took 9 points in the draw, and move down to 3rd in a tight top half of the table. They host 8th Waddesdon 3 next.
On Sunday, Thame Women travelled to unbeaten Charlbury and were invited to bowl. Charlbury hit a strong 238-6, as Flory scored 115. Megs Woodward (2-41) was the pick of the bowling. Woodward then hit 34 opening, but nobody else could get going in 88 all out. Placed 7th out of 8 after a tough run of fixtures, the team next go to Oxford with the chance to leapfrog them.
Also on Sunday, our friendly Saxons side beat Sydenham by 5 wickets – chasing 194, Sam Holmes (54*) hit his first fifty and, alongside father Guy (47), led Thame home.
