05/09/13 Thame cricketers finish home season on a high

THAME Town Cricket Club’s Firsts produced an excellent all-round performance on Saturday (31/09) at Church Meadow, to finish their home season with a win against second placed Shipton-under-Wychwood.

Fielding first, the home side exerted pressure from the start and didn’t let the Shipton batsmen start to build any partnerships. Thame’s bowling has been good all season and the addition of the experienced John Maynard and Will Rooney has provided them with a real cutting edge. However it was two stalwarts in Sam Lachlan and Mike Higgs who, with Maynard, reduced Shipton to 133 all out in the 39th over. Lachlan took three for 48, including the dangerous Jason Hunt and Simon Hole, whilst Higgs had excellent figures of three for seven, off six overs, and Maynard took four for 35.

When Thame batted, they got off to a quick start with Mike Higgs hitting 31, and James Neilson batted well for his 43. Ed Barnett hit 25, and it was left to Deon Laubscher to see the Thame home with 18 not out in the 29th over.

Whilst Horspath have already taken the promotion place in the League, this result leaves Thame third, just behind Shipton, with one game of the season left – away at Leighton Buzzard on Saturday.

The Seconds lost away to Leighton Buzzard, despite Richard Carr hitting another 50, and the Thirds lost at home to a strong Oxford side, with only Ben Warwick (54) making a good score in Thame’s 134.

CONTRIBUTED by Angus Lachlan