The Meadow Men got off to an emphatic start to the season. with the 1sts, 2nds and 3rds all winning at the weekend.
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Thame 1st XI
Thame 1st XI made a great start to the season with an emphatic 80 run victory over Gerrards Cross at their home ground on Church Meadow yesterday. Thame won the toss and did not hesitate in choosing to bat first. They scored quickly at the start with Mike Beard (49) and Matt Macdonald (32) setting Thame up for a big total, with the score on 145 for 4 with 13 overs left. Will Simpson (21) and Hassam Mushtaq (39) then both scored quickly to take Thame to 225 for 8 off their 50 overs.
In response Will Rooney (2-13) and veteran Sam Lachlan (1-43) got Thame off to a great start by reducing Gerrards Cross to 22 for 3. D Hampton (36) and B Mirza (30*) were the only two to get going, as captain Mike Higgs took 5 for 23. Gerrards Cross were never in the hunt and were bowled out for 143. A great start to the Thame side’s return to the Home Counties Premier League. They travel to Shipton-under-Wychwood on Saturday 14th.
Thame 2nd XI
For Thame’s 2nd XI, much has changed in 12 months – barely scraping a draw at Bledlow Ridge on Day 1 of last season, this time they moved to a convincing win with fully 22 overs to spare. After early wickets from Ian McStay (a miserly spell of 10-6-7-1) and Chris Jeffcock (swinging that new ball for 7-2-20-2, Dan Patey came on and took 3 key wickets, one of which combined with brother George, who caught acrobatically on the boundary, while attempting concussion in the process.
Despite the occasional warm-and-cuddly ball, befitting his new-found fatherhood, Winkle the workhorse took three more wickets in a 16.4 over spell (including a sharp, low catch from keeper Dr Ben) with Dan Patey snapping up a run out. After 47.4 overs, Bledlow Ridge 1sts were dismissed for 117.
In reply, Andy Jinman rode his luck for 43 and put on 70 for the 2nd wicket with Jeffers (35) and thereby took the score up to 88 for 1, killing off any realistic chance for the Ridge. Jeffers was just a little annoyed when he lined up to hoist the spinner into the neighbouring stables but missed. However, Guy “The Finisher” Holmes (13*, anxious to get home for childcare duties) and Dan Patey (11*) then finished off the chase in a hurry, in the 30th over. The 2nds now entertain Didcot 2nds this Saturday at Church Meadow.
Thame 3rd XI
For Thame thirds it wasn’t as simple, having been put in to bat on a very green pitch, Thame got off to a good start with Christian Warwick (32) and Liam Earwicker (23) putting on 43 for the first wicket. Then, Vimal Desai held the innings together with Thame’s top score of 37. A middle and lower order collapse, in which no other batsmen reached double figures, led to Thame being all out for a below par 140. This total included a generous contribution of 29 extras.
Bletchley’s openers got off to a flying start, cruising towards the target at 111 for the fall of only 1 wicket. A forced injury timeout for former Captain Pete ‘Girders’ Tervet, who dislocated a finger in trying to take a catch, led to a rethink of Thame’s bowling strategy. A change was required to crack Bletchley’s code, and this came in the form of debutant Ed Mather (3-15), the in-swinging Jamie Wiles (3-10) and a special 15 balls for Alistair Illsley who took 3 wickets without conceding a single run. This incredible turnaround saw them lose 5 wickets on 125, and they ended with only 1 run more as Thame stormed to a 14 run win. Are Thame 3s the new Leicester City?!
Man of the match was Christian Warwick, for his solid 32 to start the innings and 3 catches behind the stumps.
Big thank you to Andy Warwick for scoring and Duncan Crockett for Umpiring.
Thame Hub would like to wish The Meadow Men the best of luck for the season ahead.
