Thame cricketers mourn death of staunch scorer and supporter, Liz Chubb

SADLY for Thame Town Cricket Club, the joy of winning all three games in the league was tempered by the very sad loss of one of their regular scorers, Liz Chubb, to a heart-attack last week.

The late Elizabeth Chubb

Thame’s three wins last Saturday dedicated to the late Liz Chubb

AFTER winning all three of their important games last Saturday, August 26, Thame’s players dedicated those wins to the popular figure of Liz Chubb, who died last Wednesday, August 23, in Margate Hospital, from what is understood to have been a heart attack. Liz had been a regular scorer for the club in recent years and her sense of humour and love of the game will be sorely missed. All three matches were preceded by a minute’s silence and all three teams wore black armbands during their matches.

Firsts dismantle lowly Reading to set up title-decider with Aston Rowant

AFTER winning the toss, Thame firsts elected to field. Mike Higgs was the star, as he took the first four Reading wickets to fall in a fine 10 over spell (4 for 27). Gamindu Kanishka and Hassam Mushtaq both took two wickets apiece as Reading were shot out for just 100. The Thame reply was emphatic as openers Callum Russell and Will Sutcliffe put on 80, before Sutcliffe was the only wicket to fall, for 45. Russell remained unbeaten on 42, as Thame cruised home with 25 overs to spare. They host already-promoted Aston Rowant this Saturday, September 2, the final day of the season, for a top-of-the-table clash, knowing that a win will guarantee Thame promotion into Division One of Home Counties Premier League.

Seconds defeat promotion-chasing Brackley

ASKED to bat first, Thame seconds got off to a rocky start, with only skipper Matt Furness (25) getting runs in the top order. However, a partnership of almost 100 runs between Justin Avery (53) and Alastair Thomas (46) helped to shift the momentum. Youngsters Ben Buckland (27) and Evan Davies (17) then built on this momentum with some impressive boundaries, helping Thame to reach 203 from their allotted overs. In response, Brackley’s batsmen were never behind the required run rate. However, Pete Tervet’s dismissal of three of the top order (3-39), kept Thame’s hopes of winning intact. Just as it looked as if Brackley were going to edge it, their dangerous opening-batsman Eric Carpenter (95) was dismissed by Buckland, with the help of sharp wicket-keeping from Dave Saunders. After this, tight bowling from Alastair Thomas (4-38) broke through Brackley’s tail end, as they fell 19 runs short of Thame’s total. Thame 2nd XI climb to fifth in the table and will seek to ensure a top-half finish in their final game at Dinton this Saturday.

Thirds move to third spot with fifth consecutive win

LOSING the toss, Thame thirds batted first and Banbury fifths made early inroads, with the hosts soon in trouble at 29-4. However, a brilliant century from man-of-the-match Guy Holmes (109*), swung the game back to Thame. His fifth-wicket partnership of 144 runs with skipper Vim Desai (44), allowed for a tactical declaration at 191-6. In reply, Banbury looked up for the chase but were soon pegged back by tight bowling from Ian McStay. The dangerous Ahmed (61) then set the pace before falling to Vim Desai (4-21). Thame then made quick work of the Dinton tail, thanks to the bowling of Neil Smith (2-12), Will Bruce-Morgan (1-24) and Lewis Ludlam (1-1), supported by sharp keeping and stumpings from Paddy Harris, finally running out winners by 94 runs. A victory in the final league game against Oxford Downs this Saturday will guarantee second spot and promotion.

This coming Saturday, August 3, is huge for the club – both the firsts and thirds need to win to secure promotion and both are at home – the firsts at Church Meadow and the thirrds at Lord Williams’s Upper School.

SOURCE: Contributed