Victories all round for Thame cricketers

THAME Town Cricket Club’s first XI secured excellent win on Saturday (17/06) after a somewhat shaky start.

The first XI travelled to Chesham, who sat a few points above them in Division 2. Thame didn’t start well losing regular wickets and at lunch were 99-5, with Gamindu Kanishka (32) the only player to score above 30. After lunch, however, good contributions from Mushtaq, Phippen and Jeffcock, combined with a well-paced 60 not-out from James Adams (pictured,) meant that Thame reached a morale-boosting 203 off their 58 overs.

James Adams

In reply, Chesham were comfortable at 36-0, after the Chesham opening batsman was dropped in the first over. Thame then took the game to the hosts and didn’t allow Chesham to build another partnership. Will Rooney (3-17) and Chris Jeffcock (3-20) ripped through the top order, with a helping hand from Will Sutcliffe who took four catches at slip, one being a candidate for ”catch of the season”. This left Adam Phippen to clean up the tail with figures of 3-13, as Chesham collapsed from 36-0 to 99 all out inside 30 overs. This handed Thame their 4th win of the season and moved them up to 3rd place in Division 2. Thame entertain Reading this Saturday at home, looking to continue their good form.

The seconds get into their stride with a second win

ON a sweltering day at Church Meadow, Thame seconds welcomed Horspath’s third XI. Despite winning the toss and electing to bat first, Horspath failed to gain momentum throughout their innings. The most successful Thame bowlers were Sam Lachlan (3-29) and George Patey (3-34), who helped to bowl Horspath out for 105.

Matt Furness, Ali Thomas and Chris Penny also picked up one wicket each. In response, Thame made short shrift of the chase, knocking off Horspath’s total in just 16.1 overs, with nine wickets remaining. The runs came from George Patey (38*) and captain Matt Furness (47*). Thame travel to Brackley next Saturday, searching for their third win in a row.

The thirds make it three wins in a row

THAME thirds extended their winning streak to three in a row with a crushing 161 run win against Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts thirds (OBN3) at home. Having won the toss, Thame asked OBN3 to field on a hot day. Andy Jinman made an aggressive 69 and, with the help of fellow-opener Ian Chappell (31), shared an opening partnership of 81. Andy and debutant Shakeel Khan (58) then further punished the now-wilting OBN3 with a further 67-run partnership.

Shakeel and Vimal Desai (25) then piled on further misery with a partnership of 58. The innings concluded with some free-hitting from Paddy Harris (30*) and Tim Dabbs (15*) to ensure a huge total of 257-4 after 45 overs. In reply, OBN3 lost early wickets and looked desperate at 12-4 from 9 overs, but then offered resistance for a short spell. Thame’s total was never at risk however, OBN3 being bowled out for 96 in 33 overs. Ed Mather and Jordan Lee-Paskin took one wicket each, while Desai, Lewis Ludlam and Pete Higson each claimed two.

Thame thirds travel to Banbury this Saturday.

Seventh win out of eight for Under-11s

AND finally, on Sunday morning (8/06), Thame’s Under-11s completed the season-double against Aston Rowant with a three-wicket win at home. The batting was held together by captain Luke Hayes (26*), while the wickets came from Theo Ransby, Mack Copley and Will Beerling.