1s suffer disappointing defeat at Tring
Another below par batting performance saw Thame shot out for just 124, with overseas player Gamindu Kanishka top scoring with 34.
Thame’s defence started brightly, reducing Tring to 20-3 with Kanishka, Mike Higgs and Andy Russell picking up wickets. However 124 never looked like being enough and a steady partnership saw Tring home for the loss of 4 wickets, with plenty of overs to spare.
Thame host Banbury this weekend in the first timed game of the season.
2s chase hard but fall to first defeat of the season
The 2nd XI sought to extend their 100% win rate at home against 2nd placed East Oxford. East Oxford got off to a strong start, with Thame’s opening bowlers unable to dismiss the visitor’s batsmen quickly. Daniel Patey (2-53), Alastair Thomas (3-43) and Matt Ridgway (2-15) forced breakthroughs, but East Oxford’s middle order and tail-enders managed to lift them to a more than respectful total of 221.
In response, Richard Carr (71, pictured below right) was quick to come out of the blocks, though there was little support from the rest of the top order. Runs from Jack Aston (31), Daniel Patey (33) and Jonathon Jelfs (26) kept Thame in the game, but the continual falling of wickets meant that they were always on the back foot. Thame fell 18 runs short, meaning that East Oxford closed the gap on the league leaders.
The 2nd XI seek to extend their lead at the top next week at Shipton-under-Wychwood.
3s almost snatch win, picking up 21 valuable points
Thame 3s travelled to Kimble 2s. Having lost the toss, Thame were inserted into bat and thanks to a youthful assured 109 partnership between Christian Warwick (60) and Ben Buckland (59) posted a score of 191-9 off 45 overs. A last wicket stand off 30 shared by Nick Humphries and Ian McStay also ensured maximum batting points.
In reply, Kimble’s opening partnership yielded 79 off 22 overs thanks to Skeggs (44) & Whitehead (37). This looked like a solid launch pad for Kimble’s chase, but the introduction of Vim Desai (2-40) – who removed both openers – and man of the match Ben Buckland (4-37, pictured below) pulled things back. With an excellent direct hit run-out by Robbie Jackson removing the dangerous looking Ahmed, sharp keeping again by Paddy Harris (2 catches) and the experienced Ian McStay (2-6), Thame had Kimble at 139 for 9. Unfortunately a stubborn last wicket partnership survived the last 7 overs denying Thame victory.
Thame 3s take on 4th placed Cumnor next week.
4s fail to defend respectable score
Thame 4s hosted Aston Rowant 5, and after losing the toss were put into bat. A slow but solid start was undone by a succession of wickets, leaving Thame at 60-6. ‘Pistol’ Pete Higson (44, pictured below) and Zahid Hussain (30) lead a strong counter attack, and Josh Edworthy’s quick 14 at the very end pushed Thame up to 150 all out.
Aston Rowant’s openers started solidly, with youngster Max Muncaster bowling well on debut, before Captain Ed Mather (1-39) broke through. Patrick Willasey-Wilsey took 2-23, including an excellent diving catch by Mather, while Higson (1-34) took a wicket with his first ball. The game was balanced, before a good 5th wicket partnership which was eventually broken by a Joe Phippen run out. Atkins could not be removed, and batted through for 79* to blunt Thame’s effort, leading Rowant to a 5 wicket win.
The 4s face Cropredy 3 at home next.
NEW 100 ball format comes to Thame
A Thame XI invited Haddenham down the road to test out the new 100 ball format on Friday, giving members of our large 4th XI squad a chance to get out in the middle. Haddenham hit the ball impressively, and got up to an imposing 175 from their 100 balls – Sean Hayes picking up 3 wickets.
With a tough ask at hand, Thame’s chase never really got going. Lewis Ludlam lead the way with 48, including 3 sixes, supported by Ben Cooper-Ellis’ 13 not out, but the boys could not get close and ended on 89-4. All-in-all it was a successful night played in a good spirit, and a return fixture is on the cards during the remainder of the season.
Ladies fall just 16 runs short of strong Chesham team
Facing a strong Chesham team, Thame fielded first. 2 wickets for Sarah Sanderson, both caught by Bridget Cooper, as well as a catch by keeper Beth John off of Antonia Barnes’ bowling, accompanied 2 run outs. In spite of supreme efforts by bowlers Sanderson, Lina Budde-Manning, Sally Brentnall and Barnes, further wickets eluded Thame. However in the last over, bails flew with Cooper ending an impressive 3-over bowling spell of only 1 run against, a maiden over, followed by a double wicket maiden over.
Batting after tea, Thame produced an exciting run chase, including 16 fours, and were well up with the high required rate for most of the innings. John and Cooper both retired at 30, with steady performances by Barnes (11), Sally Surman (13) and Mel White (11). Thame fell just short in the end, but take plenty of positives.
