A vintage end to Thame Cricket Club’s season

OXFORD Downs vs Thame – Thame’s 1st XI completed the double on Sunday, 13, by winning the Wilf Bennett T20 final, making 2015 a champagne season to remember. Thame fielded a young side, with the oldest player being 25, against an in-form Oxford Downs in this match at Abingdon.

Oxford Downs won the toss and elected to field and Thame used the power play to score at a rate of 10 an over. However, the spinners bowled well and Thame found themselves struggling for runs at the 14-over stage. Hassam Mushtaq scored 40 and a match-winning innings from 17 year-old Oli Sutcliffe of 42 not out off 25 balls saw Thame to a par score of 150 for 6.

In reply, Oxford Downs started slowly but Watts (40) and Sandbach (51) put them in the driving seat with 4 overs to go and the score on 123 for 2. Some great fielding, however, took the game down to 10 needed off the final over. Chris Jeffcock, who ended up with excellent figures of 3-20 from his 4 overs, only conceded 1 run off the final over to clinch the win. A very promising performance from such a young side, in the club’s final game of the season.

Oli Sutcliffe

Man-of-the-match was Oli Sutcliffe.

Oxford and Bletchingdon Nondescripts IIIs vs Thame IIIs

Thame IIIs travelled to Bletchington on the Saturday, September 12, with high hopes for the Division 9 cup final. The home side batted first and faced tidy seam bowling, led by captain Peter Tervet, who took 2 wickets. The young Thame spinners then pegged back OBN, Luke McStay taking 3 for 8 off 4 overs and Ben Buckland taking 2 wickets. Supported by keeper Paddy Harris (2 stumpings and a catch) they dismissed the home side for 141. In reply, Thame started well with Liam Earwicker 38 and Paddy Harris 26. A collapse then followed, from 80 for 4 to 116 all out. A disappointing end for Thame IIIs but plenty to build on for next season.

Thame vs Hetairoi

The third game of the weekend was a friendly fixture at home to touring side Hetairoi. The visitors batted well to make 203 before tea, with good spells from James McStay, Ally Illsley, Danny Thompson and veteran Angus Lachlan. The home side responded well after tea, with Dave Saunders holding the innings together with an excellent 70, supported by newcomer Shakeel Khan (30) , but finally they succumbed to good spin bowling and ended on 170 all out, in the failing light.