It’s been a tough time for our Men’s 3rd XI – after several promotions and the subsequent loss of most of that team, a depleted 3s could not manage a win last season! Hosting Garsington at Lord Williams’, Thame won the toss and bowled. Chris ‘Winkle’ Penny superbly took out Garsington’s top 4 cheaply, before Leanne Harris and Richard Carr added 2 each to have the visitors all out for 141. Thame also lost the top order cheaply, and with the target tantalising, Thame were running out of wickets. Carr (48) as ever kept the runs ticking, when with 1 wicket remaining Leanne Harris struck a 4 to give the 3s their first win since 2021! Sitting 8th, the 3s go to 4th-placed Fringford next.
Thame 4s were at Chearsley 2, lost the toss and batted. Charlie Anderson opened with a fine 71, backed up by Harshi Malan (35), as each batter made starts to help Thame post 191-3. All of Thame’s bowlers contributed as they chipped away at the wickets, before Rob Kenny‘s 4-33 finished off the innings to give Thame the win by 28 runs. The 4th XI are 3rd in the table, despite having played 1 less game than everyone else in the top half. They host 4th-placed Long Marston 3 next.
The 1s headed to Chesham, won the toss and bowled. Chesham started strong and built on it, posting 324-5 from 50 overs – Ubaid Kiani was the pick of the bowlers with 2-62. Farid Butt opened impressively with 52 off 34 balls, including 3 sixes, but the rest of the top order struggled. Dinushka Malan continued his fine form with 52, but the target was always looking out of sight as Thame ended all out 134 runs short. Placed 7th, the 1s host 2nd place Great Brickhill next.
The 2nd XI hosted Chearsley and were asked to bat. Rob Johnson (39) opened steadily, but the rest of the top order could not get going. Ben Warwick top-scored with 44 at 5, but with no more major contributions Thame posted 166. Cameron Eldridge removed the Chearsley opener for a duck, but 2 strong partnerships took the visitors most of the way. 2 late wickets could not prevent a 6 wicket defeat. The 2s are 5th and travel to Stokenchurch, who sit 8th, next.
It was another busy weekend for Thame’s Women, who hosted Oxenford on Sunday for a T20 friendly and a Super 8s friendly. In the T20 Thame scored at an impressive rate, set off by Sarah Sanderson‘s 24 at the top, before Mel White struck 28 to post 132-5. With the ball, Thame kept it tight; White added 2 wickets to her day as Thame won by 59 runs! In the Super 8s, Oxenford posted a net score of 266, only losing 2 wickets. Thame lost more wickets, but also scored a lot more runs – Harshi Malan top scored with 24 to net score 279 and win! On the Monday Bank Holiday, the team travelled to play in the Ickenham Sixes Tournament. There were a few close games, but from the 5 games the team won 1 and came runners up in the plate final, finishing 4th. Captain Sarah Sanderson said ‘(The Tournament was) a really great day with some strong teams that play in the Middlesex Premier League’, adding ‘It was really good to play such a good standard of cricket!’
Twitter: @thamecricket – Facebook: Thame Cricket Club – Instagram: @thamecricket