1st XI through to T20 Semi-Final and survive for a draw in the league
Thame advanced to the semi-final of the Oxfordshire T20 knockout tournament (the Bernard Tollett Cup) on Thursday 21st, by beating Cumnor, away from home. They won the toss and batted first on a slow, turning wicket, posting 134 for 4, with good contributions from Adam Phippen (48), Mike Higgs (41) and Will Taylor (34 not out). When Cumnor replied they lost wickets regularly and were bowled out for 104 in the 19th over. There were two wickets each for Higgs, Phippen, Chris Jeffcock and George Patey. Oxford await Thame in the semi-final.
Meanwhile, in the Home Counties league last Saturday, they produced a much-improved display to force a draw with their local rivals Horspath, at Church Meadow. Horspath won the toss and elected to bat and good opening spells from Will Rooney and Sam Lachlan meant Thame started well, reducing them to 30 for 3. However, 60 from Ward and contributions from Ali and Foster saw Horspath up to 195 for 9. In reply, Thame struggled early on and poor shots and a couple of run outs left Thame 40 for 5. However a half-century from Matt McDonald (51, pictured left) and contributions from Mike Higgs (21) and Adam Phippen (39 not out) meant Thame got to 154 for 8 at the end of 54 overs. They travel to Cookham Dean on the 30th for a crucial match, with renewed heart.
2nd XI stay top with comfortable victory
Thame 2nds travelled to 2nd-in-the-table Abingdon Vale 2nds, knowing that nothing less than a win would suffice to keep their title-challenge on track; they did not disappoint. The home side won the toss and batted but only Luke Charlesworth (69) looked really comfortable. Ali Thomas (3 for 54) took the key wickets, supported well by Ian McStay (3 for 41), as Abingdon could only manage a below-par 171 for 9 off their 53 overs.
After a good start by Richard Carr (18) and Jimmy Nielsen (32), Thame scored at almost 4 an over and, with Matt Furness in charge (60 not out, pictured right), were comfortable winners for 5 wickets, from 44.3 overs. The 2nds host Kingston Bagpuize 1sts this Saturday at Church Meadow, and stay top of the table.
A century for Christian Warwick in 3rd XI friendly
Thame 3rd XI, plus guests, took on Dorchester-on-Thames on Sunday at church Meadow in a 40-over friendly to get some practice in before the crunch Buckingham match next Saturday. Dorchester won the toss and elected to bat. It was a tough innings for the bowlers with boundaries being hit regularly in a strong opening stand, but Matt Anderson’s 2-28 got Thame going before Robbie Jackson and Will Sutcliffe took 1 wicket each. The visitors posted an imposing 221-4, with J. Neal scoring 79 not out.
Thame set about the target with a flurry of boundaries themselves as Danny Thompson opened up with 23. It was very much Christian Warwick’s (pictured left) day though as he took the attack to the bowling and hit his maiden century ending on an incredible 132 not out. This led Thame to the target off of only 27 overs, alongside support from Evan Davies (35) and Charlie Greenhough (13 not out).