The 4th week of the Men’s season brought more selection headaches, but at the eleventh hour, all 4 teams had 11 players ready to represent The Meadowmen. Thame 1st XI hosted Great Brickhill at Church Meadow, won the toss and batted. Kashif Nizami (51) scored his first half-century for the club and captain-for-the-day Farid Butt added 32, to help build a base at 151-5. But looking to accelerate, wickets fell rapidly, and Thame sadly fell to 185 all out. Faisal Ali (4-36) and Dinushka Malan (3-12) opened the bowling and took early wickets – from there the visitors could never mount a serious chase, falling all out for 112 in the 33rd over. After a second win of the season, the boys next face Oxford Downs away.
The 2nd XI also faced Great Brickhill, taking on their 2nd XI away. Brickhill won the toss and batted. The hosts were always building a big score from the off – Sam Cheetham took 2-41 for Thame, as the other wickets were shared about, but could not stop a total of 257-8. Thame then lost an early wicket, however Harry Thomas (82) and Rob Johnson (30) steadied the ship, before Thomas and young Josh Towell (58) combined superbly for 132 for the 3rd wicket to put Thame in the driving seat. ‘Pistol’ Pete Higson, one of several promoted from the 3s, smashed 21 off 11 balls to bring Thame home by 6 wickets with 4 overs to spare. The 2s host Horspath 3 at home next week.
Thame 3s hosted Buckingham Town 3 at Lord Williams’ School. Batting first, Thame lost an early wicket. A 2nd wicket partnership of 72 between Toby Baker (38) and Joe Phippen (22) built a foundation, but wickets fell regularly after that as Thame scraped to 146-9 off 45 overs. Facing strong batting, the breakthrough was elusive for some time, taking away any hopes of a victory. Baker took 2-35 late on, but Buckingham reached the target in the 28th over, 2 wickets down. The 3s will push for a first win against Long Marston 2nd XI away.
The 4th XI faced Chesterton, away. Chesterton won the toss and chose to bat, and at 56-4, Thame were happy. Ed Mather and Zed Khan took 2 wickets each, however the hosts recovered well to post 170-7 from their 45 overs. In the chase, Khan hit 39 batting at 3, but struggled for support with no other batter reaching double figures. Thame were eventually all out for 103. The 4s also look to get a first win of the season at home to Westcott 2.
Thame’s injury-laden Women took the Minibus off to Herefordshire, to face Brockhampton in the quarter-final of the T20 Plate. Thame lost the toss and were asked to bat. Mel White (32) got Thame off to a good start, and Emma Page added 33 later on, as Thame reached 109-4 from the 20 overs. Leanne Harris and Captain Sarah Sanderson took 2 wickets each, while Thame could only field 10 after another injury. In a close run chase, Thame faced the abnormality of a change in the target score on the scoreboard during the innings, implying a smaller chase for the hosts, but this was quickly rectified. Further despair came when a late thick edge was not given out, allowing Brockhampton to reach the target 7 wickets down with 3 balls to spare. Banbury visit for a friendly at Church Meadow next week, after Radlett forfeited the final 2 Super 8s matches. Thame now await other results to see if they will be Super 8s Group C winners!
