The final competitive weekend of the season arrived, and while most of our teams could enjoy a last match of the season with no repercussions, the 3rd XI had to win to stay in Division 6A and thus complete The Great Escape!
They hosted Buckingham Town 4 at Lord Williams’ School, lost the toss and batted. Richard Carr opened with 44, before Jordan Lee-Paskin (40) and valuable contributions from the youngsters in the lower order helped Thame reach 170 all out. After a strong start for Buckingham, Thame’s own Tom, Dick and Harry; Nick Humphries, Ian McStay and Chris Penny took 2 wickets each to dig Thame out of trouble. Harshi Malan (4-26) then came on and ripped through the tail, to give Thame a resounding win by 59 runs and with it Division 6A survival, relegating Buckingham in the process. Thame had been in the relegation zone since week 6, winning the last 4 games in a row got them out of trouble in a very tight division, which ended with just 28 points difference between 4th and 10th. Congratulations 3s!
The 1st XI travelled to already relegated Horspath and bowled first. Luke Hayes (3-48) and Dinny Malan (2-28) opened the bowling and picked up wickets from the off. Brad Watson took 2-9, before a strong 8th wicket partnership helped boost Horspath. Skipper Hassam Mushtaq (3-50) broke the partnership and cleaned up the tail to 198 all out. Ubaid Kiani (72 not out) led from the front, supported first by Alex Browne (31) and then Malan (56 not out), who both smashed 4 sixes each, to give Thame victory by 6 wickets in super quick time. The 1s finish comfortably in 5th place in HCPCL Division 2, and will hope for a promotion push next year!
Thame 2nd XI took on Tiddington 2 at Church Meadow, lost the toss and bowled. Tiddington put on 74 for the first wicket. Will Littlewood (2-36) helped pull Thame back into it, but Tiddington pushed on from 158-4 to post an impressive 266 without losing another wicket. James Dack opened with 16 in reply, but on an off day for the 2s, this was the best effort in 108 all out. The team finish 5th, around where they’ve been all season, after threatening a late promotion push.
The 4s finished their season away to lowly Waddesdon 3, won the toss and bowled. Trevor Spindler rounded off a memorable season for him with 5-14, to have the hosts all out for just 50. Thame lost 2 early wickets, but Daniel Tervet (20 not out) and Captain Tim Dabbs (18 not out) saw Thame home by 8 wickets for an early win. The 4th XI finish 3rd in division 8A, just outside of the automatic promotion spots.
Thame Women hosted Oxford, won the toss and bowled. After a solid start for the visitors with the bat, Harshi Malan again steamrolled through the top order with a memorable 5-29. Leanne Harris and Zara Wyatt added 2 wickets each, with Wyatt also getting a runout, to have the visitors all out for just 83. Malan (28 not out) and Megs Woodward (27) led Thame to a comfortable victory by 8 wickets in the 15th over. Thame finish 5th in their first season in the Premier Division!
As always the season ends with a selection of friendlies, with Hetairoi visiting on Saturday 9th, East Anglian Veterans taking on the Women on the Sunday and Northfields coming on Sunday 17th. Also, the 1st XI are in the Wilf Bennett T20 Final at Wormsley on Sunday 17th and will be grateful for any support!
