In the last round of Men’s matches before the win-lose format returns, Thame 1st XI took on Oxford Downs at Church Meadow. Downs won the toss, and asked Thame to bat. It was an innings to remember as Alex Browne struck 119* and Mike Beard hit 106, in a superb 193 run partnership for the 3rd wicket. Browne‘s innings included 4 sixes, and came off just 100 balls, as Thame declared on 285-3. Thame picked up an early wicket, but Downs continued to chip away at the target. Wickets were falling at regular intervals, however, with Hassam Mushtaq and Jonathan Jelfs taking 3 each. At 9 down, Downs ran out of batters and overs, and finished 16 runs short. Thame take 18 points from the draw and move up to 7th. They next travel to 2nd-placed Wargrave.
The 2s were away to Horspath, won the toss and bowled. Chairman Pete Tervet (3-25) took early wickets, but strong performances from the middle order, including 101* from Turner, helped Horspath build a big score. Zach Harris took 3-30 later on, but Horspath racked up 318-9 from 49 overs. In reply, Thame lost early wickets and were forced to dig in. Ben Warwick (59) led the resistance before a tense finish, with Thame 9 down and just able to hang on for a draw on 179. These valuable points keep Thame 2 points from safety, ahead of the visit of 2nd placed Bletchley Town.
Thame 3s hosted Long Marston 2 at Lord Williams’, lost the toss and batted. Paddy Harris opened with 27, but lost partners regularly, as Thame batters suffered 5 ducks. The tail wagged, led by captain Chris ‘Winkle’ Penny (29), but Thame were all out for 100 with Mistry taking 5-40 for the visitors. Will Littlewood took a quick wicket for Thame, but the 2nd wicket partnership took Long Marston to the target swiftly in the 16th over. Adrift at the bottom, the 3rd XI head to mid-table Wolverton 2 next.
The 4th XI travelled to Westcott 2, won the toss and bowled. Westcott’s top order started well, before Shay Reading‘s 2-36. Leanne Harris started off her great weekend with 4-20, and helped to stem the flow later on, as Westcott posted 177-8 from the 45 overs. Charlie Anderson opened with 31, but all other batters were out for single figures as Thame struggled against Perera (5-16), ending 72 all out. Sitting 32 points above the relegation zone, the 4s next host local rivals Chinnor, who sit 3rd.
Unbeaten league-leaders, Thame Women, hosted Deddington on Sunday at Church Meadow. Thame batted after losing the toss. Cath Hawkes starred with a brilliant 97* from 84 balls, and Captain Sarah Sanderson added 30 as Thame posted another impressive score of 202-4 from 30 overs. In the 2nd innings, Leanne Harris (3-14) added more wickets to her weekend as Thame made early inroads at 29-4. Emily Green then came on and took 3-24, to have Deddington all out for 74 in just the 19th over. After 8 straight wins, Thame travel to Ballinger Waggoners next week, with just 2 points needed to take the title!
