Women’s Cricket at Thame goes International
Last Sunday, more history was made, as Thame Town C.C. welcomed the Oman Women’s national cricket team as part of their five-game tour of the UK – the first international opposition at Thame since the Maltese national side visited over 30 years’ ago!! The visitors arrived in Thame having previously taken on Wanstead CC, Hertfordshire, the CCC and the MCC as part of their tour. Their tour also included a wonderful day at Lords to witness the final of the Royal London Championship Cup between Hampshire and Somerset. Having won the toss and choosing to bat the impressively-drilled Oman team showed their class by amassing an impressive 182 for 3 in their 20 overs. Standout displays came from Jayadhanya Gunasekar (80 off 66 balls), Hina Javed (31 off 20) and captain Vaishali Jesrani (28* off 23). Sarah Gumbold and Bridget Cooper took their first international wickets.
In response, Thame Woman toiled against some impressive bowling, scoring 60-8 off their 20 overs. Liv Hart and Beth John performed well and Savanagh Beaumont and Lina Budde-Manning resisted well in the final 5 overs. The Omani team management were graceful in their thanks to Thame Town CC for hosting the game in such beautiful surroundings. Thanks go to Sarah Sanderson for organising the game, to Simon Prodger (National Cricket Conference) for arranging the UK tour. Special thanks also to Sajit Kumar (Omani manager), Haider Ali (Coach), Suresh Kumar (Trainer) and all the team for bringing such skill and vibrancy to Thame on what was a special and memorable day.
Back down to earth on Bank Holiday Monday, as Thame travelled to Deddington to play in a triangular Super 8s match, where they beat Deddington but lost to a very strong Charlbury side.
Back-to-back wins for 1st XI
Thame 1st XI put in a strong performance at home against Wokingham. Bowling first, Thame’s opening bowlers Faisal Ali (3-18) and Jo Van Dyk (2-33) produced superb spells to reduce Wokingham to 8-3 and then 32-5. On a good wicket, Wokingham rebuilt steadily, eventually setting a below par 167.
Any concerns over the run chase appeared to have been dismissed as Thame openers Mike Beard (41) and Ollie Burland (32) reached 74-0 off just 11 overs, but their dismissals prompted a collapse to 109-4. With wickets tumbling around him, Callum Russell was left to steer his side home with a well controlled 31*, Thame reaching their target for the loss of 6 wickets with 17 overs to spare.
Thame host Oxford Downs this Saturday.
Carr ton keeps 2s unbeaten
The 2nd XI travelled to Great Brickhill. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Thame got off to a rocky start falling to 43-6. Despite this, Richard Carr (101, pictured below) came to save the day with a fantastic century, with support also coming from Cian Cooper-Davies (25) and Alaistair Thomas (42*). Thame ended up on a decent total of 219.
In return, Great Brickhill got off to a quick start and always looked to be going above the run rate needed. However, each of Thame’s bowlers regularly took wickets, with Jonathon Jelfs (3-51), Alaistair Thomas (2-46) and Rob Johnson (2-31) taking most of them. It was a tense finish but late wickets meant that Great Brickhill were bowled out 8 runs short of Thame’s total.
The 2nd XI seek to build on their perfect start to the season next week at Stokenchurch.
McStay hat-trick helps 3s win big
Having won the toss, Thame asked the home side to bat first. Rob Tomlin (1-19) and Nick Humphries (3-23) applied early pressure and restricted the run scoring early on. Rob took out their potentially dangerous opener before the skipper opted to rotate the bowlers on a hot day. The rewards were instant with Luke Hayes (2-10) taking a wicket with his first ball and later dismissing the only real threat with the help of a sharp catch by Manil Subasinghe. Humphries was then rewarded, after toiling for 8 overs, by taking 3 wickets in 4 balls. The cherry-on-top for Thame was veteran Ian McStay (pictured below) coming on to finish off the Stokenchurch innings, 76 all out, by taking a hat-trick with his first 3 balls (his 5th hat-trick!).
Thame, sensing an early finish and victory, came straight back out with openers Andy Jinman (36*) and Manil Subsesinghe (36) forming a first wicket partnership of 75. Jinners set the tone early by taking 3 boundaries off the first over. Manil also helped dominate the bowlers showing excellent technique for his first competitive match in 2 years. Once the winning runs were hit, tea was taken at 4pm!
Thame next play at home against Long Marston 3s.
Defeat at home for 4th XI
Thame 4s hosted Kingston Bagpuize 2 and, winning the toss, elected to bat first. A steady opening partnership saw off the opening bowlers and built a gradual score, before a flurry of wickets saw Thame in trouble. However an excellent knock from Dan Hart (36*) and some late partnerships saw Thame reach a more-respectable 105 all out.
As Kingston went in to bat, a few early wickets for Ed Mather (3-30, pictured below) and excellent opening bowling from Shay Reading gave Thame hope of an unlikely victory; however Kingston’s opening batsman Stuart Edwards (37*) proved impossible to shift, and Kingston claimed victory for the loss of just 4 wickets.
Next week Thame play away to Kimble 2.