Burland fires Thame back to the top
Ollie Burland smashed an unbeaten 74 as Thame returned to the top of Home Counties Premier 2 with a convincing 9 wicket win at home to Chesham. Bowling first, Thame’s dependable new ball partnership of Jo Van Dyk and Faisal Ali caused huge problems as Chesham were reduced to 43-7. Matthew Warner struck a fine 70 to push his side up to a respectable 128 all out, Ali finishing with 5-36 from 14 overs.
Thame had bowled Chesham out cheaply in the game between these sides earlier in the year, but had collapsed in reply to fall to defeat. Burland (pictured above) went on the offensive in reply in a bid to avoid similar here and got Thame off to a flyer. Captain Mike Beard departed for 22 with the score at 82-1, but the damage was already done. Callum Russell (25*) joined Burland to guide Thame to victory in just 25 overs.
This sets up a first versus second clash with Oxford next weekend.
Gutsy 2s come away with draw in the wet
It was probably the windiest day anyone had played in at Jordan’s Hill, in the 2nd XI match against Oxford 2’s. Having lost the toss, Thame took to the field and were on and off 3 times for rain, but losing only 5 overs (erroneously!) in the first innings, with Oxford completing their 48 overs at 4.35pm, scoring 178-6. Liam Evans (2-40, pictured below) and Dan Patey (2-57) picked up 2 wickets each, and Adam Phippen bowled tightly in his spell.
In reply, Thame lost a couple of early wickets, but Jack Aston (32) and Ben Warwick (33), pushed Thame on before Oli Sutcliffe blasted a quick 20 to put the pressure back onto Oxford, but his departure left Thame on 143-9 and Liam Evans blocking out the last 5 balls for a losing draw but an important extra 2 points – 7 in total.
The 2s host Oxford & Bletchingdon 1st XI at Church Meadow, next Saturday.
3s win battle of the top 2
Thame 3rds went into their crucial, top-of-the-table clash with Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 2s, on Saturday, wary of the only side to have beaten them so far this season. Despite strong winds and regular rain interruptions, the match went according to plan for the first 27 overs. Having won the toss and asked Nondies to bat, Thame’s opening-bowlers proved too good and reduced the visitors to 39-5 off 9 overs, with Luke Hayes (5-24, pictured below) taking his first league 5fer, supported by the sheer pace of James Olliver (1-24) and some good catching, especially a candidate for catch-of-the-season from Ian McStay in the slips. The bowling changes brought no respite, with Pete Tervet (1-18) and Ian McStay (3-35) tightening the grip and Nondies limping to 82-8. Only in the last 8 overs did Hafeez manage to accelerate the scoring, as Nondies were eventally bowled out for 137 inside the 36th over of a match reduced to 39 overs per side.
The excellence of the tea from the Holmes family may have been weighing heavily on the top 4 Thame batsmen as, unusually, none of them built on their early starts and the match was still in the balance at 59-4. Fahad Majeed (pictured bottom) strode to the wicket and took the innings by the scruff of the neck – by the time he returned to the pavilion, he had reached 50*, ably assisted by Luke Hayes (27) plus late boundaries from Paddy Harris and James Olliver. The latter ignored his captain’s advice to “get them in singles” and finished the match by putting the opening bowler back over his head for a big 6!
The 3rds won a close game by 3 wickets and now lead Division 8 by 50 points, as they travel to play Bletchley 2nds next week. Thanks must go to Zac Harris for scoring and to the two umpires (Sean Hayes for Thame) for their efficient and impartial umpiring.
4s crush Didcot to move away from relegation
Thame 4s travelled to Didcot on Saturday on an extremely blustery day. Having lost the toss, Thame were asked to bat first. Thame made a great start with openers Charlie Anderson (50) and Max Muncaster (a career best 74) setting an excellent platform. A further 55 from Taylor Vines, coming in at 3, ensured that Thame could declare on a season best 230-3 of 41 overs.
In reply, Didcot never really threatened Thames total. Superb bowling from Trevor Spindler (4-29) and Dan Constant (3-53) created a regular fall of wickets, as Didcot were all out for 110 – giving Thame victory by 120 runs.
The win gives Thame a valuable 25 points ahead of next weeks crunch game at home to 2nd placed Eynsham 2s.
Carr & Thomas help Oxfordshire to Semis
Following their 1 run win against Kent, Oxfordshire Seniors beat another first class County, Somerset in the quarter finals at Oxford Downs on Sunday
Richard Carr and Alastair Thomas of Thame Town, both played and helped secure a semi final place against Essex. Somerset batted first, scoring 230-6, with Thomas bowling the last 9 overs of the innings, taking 2-57.
Carr opened the batting once again, and Oxfordshire scored 223-2 before thunderstorms stopped play with 4 overs left to play, giving the home team a win on a higher average run rate.
