It was a great weekend for the Meadowmen this weekend, because the 2nd XI won their match and were therefore crowned champions of Division 5, ahead of Horspath 3rds! This is the first time in a decade that the 2nds have won their division.
Meanwhile, the 1sts have consolidated their position in the Home Counties Division 2, despite a rain-affected defeat by Oxford
and the 3rds have finished a very creditable 2nd in Division 9 (North).
The above photo is of the 2nd XI, after their win at Cumnor on Saturday.
1st XI
Thame 1st XI ended their league season with a rain-affected defeat against visitors Oxford, based on the Duckworth-Lewis system. Thame won the toss and elected to bat, with 36 from Will Sutcliffe and 55 not out from Hassam Mushtaq bringing them up to 162 all out in 43 overs. In reply, Oxford started quickly with rain threatening, but despite being pegged back by wickets from Higgs, Mushtaq and Lachlan, when the rain finally came down Oxford were 108 for 4 off 21 overs, which constituted a completed game and meant that Oxford secured promotion to the Home Counties 1st Division. Meanwhile, Thame had already achieved their goal of remaining in Division 2 for the 2017 season, after this first season back up.
2nd XI
Thame 2nds travelled to 4th-placed Cumnor 2nds, knowing that promotion to Division 4 of the Cherwell League was by no means secure – a minimum of 9 points could be required, if the gloomy weather forecast did not play out. In the event, the match got off to an early start and Cumnor batted first but, despite a rapid start, they soon began to lose wickets regularly. With Ian McStay (4-47) and skipper Chris Jeffcock (3-39) making inroads, Cumnor were bundled out for 153 in the 20th over. In reply, Thame had to balance a desire to score quickly to beat the oncoming rain, with the need to retain wickets. Despite a good 2nd-wicket partnership of 46 between James Nielsen and Matt Furness, the result remained in the balance for most of the innings, as 6 wickets fell. It was largely thanks to Furness (76), with late support from Christian Warwick, that Thame got home in the 29th over, thereby taking 25 points and winning Division 5 by a margin of 20 points from Horspath – the first time the 2nds have won their division for a decade !
3rd XI
Thame 3rds travelled to Bicester and North Oxford 3rds with 2nd place in Division 9 (North) already confirmed. Thame lost the toss and were asked to bat in drizzle. Joe Phippen (51) scored his maiden fifty in an opening stand of 114 with Danny Thompson (47). With overs being lost due to rain, Dave Saunders (26), Vim Desai (17) and Lewis Ludlam (10 not out) had to score quickly as Thame ended on 175-4 from 37 overs. The home side’s innings was cut short after only 4 overs as rain set in, with the match abandoned. However, a successful season all-round for Thame, with a 2nd-placed finish just 25 points behind Buckingham, whose only defeat was to Thame.
