Thame 1st XI were in much need of a win at home to Oxford. After choosing to bowl, Dinny Malan (3-35) and Luke Hayes (2-11) got Thame off to an incredible start, leaving Oxford on 40-5. The lower-middle order then helped Oxford recover to 212-8 from the 58 overs. Thame’s top order also fell cheaply to 37-4. Malan came in struck a classy 114 not out from 118 balls, supported in the main by Nikhil Nomula (36), to lead Thame to an important win by 3 wickets. This 2nd win of the season takes Thame up to 7th and they head to 4th-placed Oxford Downs next.
The 2nd XI faced Dinton 2 away, and were asked to bat. Hugh Pilkington (52) and Alex Tervet (44) put on 103 for the first wicket, but from there Thame lost 3 wickets for 1 run. Adam Culley (52) and Ben Warwick (49) then helped propel Thame up to a strong 269-9. Robbie Jackson (3-36) got things going with the ball, and helped put Thame in a strong position to win. Wickets continued to fall, but Thame could not get the last wicket and the match was drawn at 177-9. The 2s take a healthy 20 points and are in 6th place. They host 3rd-place Aston Rowant 3 next.
Thame 3s were away to Bletchley Town 2, won the toss and bowled. Most of Bletchley’s top order got starts, but Chris ‘Winkle’ Penny (5-48) starred for Thame, breaking the set batters and blowing away the middle to lower order to 166 all out. In reply, Thame struggled from the off; Harshani Malan (37) provided the stiffest resistance but the team were forced to fight for the draw, and managed it at 120-8. The 3s stay 9th and host 7th Bledlow Ridge 2 next.
The 4th XI hosted Tiddington 4 and opted to bowl. Chances were aplenty, and although not always taken, regular wickets did fall. Shay Reading (3-15) and Will Littlewood (2-26) did the most damage as first changes to limit a youthful Tiddington to 96 all out. Thame never looked troubled in the chase; Charlie Anderson opened, scoring 52 not out to lead Thame to victory by 8 wickets in the 27th over. Thame move up to 2nd and head to table-toppers Chalgrove in a huge match next week.
Thame Women started their first ever Home Counties Premier League campaign at home versus Moreton. Thame opted to bowl and got off to a great start; Leanne Harris took 2-34 to help have the visitors 42-4. Two strong middle order partnerships pushed the score on, and despite Ava Gabriele‘s leading figures of 3-36, Moreton recovered to 200-8 from the 40 overs. Eli Dey opened with 23 for Thame, but this proved to be the top score, as from 49-1 the rest of the batting fell away to 111 all out. Thame take 9 bonus points from the match and head to Knebworth next week, a side who also lost out this week.
Dinny Malan scored 114 to lead the 1st XI to victory – Photo taken earlier in the season by John Phippen
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