Thame cricket round-up

ONLY two more weeks of the league left to play and Thame Town Cricket Club are in with a shout of promotion for both the First team and the Thirds.

Meanwhile, the Seconds are safe in mid-table in Cherwell Division Four. Match reports from last weekend:

Firsts produce another nail-biting victory to keep promotion hopes alive

AFTER losing the toss at home to Chesham, Thame openers Will Sutcliffe and Callum Russell (pictured) got the hosts off to a blistering start, plundering 48 runs off the first 7 overs. The loss of Sutcliffe for 21 halted the Thame charge, but runs continued to flow as Kanishka (45)helped Russell (78)swell the total to 150-1 with 16 overs left. From this platform however, Thame proceeded to collapse, losing their last 9 wickets for just 50 runs, finishing 200 all out.

Callum Russell

On a good wicket, Thame needed a good start and it was Will Rooney who delivered again, striking twice to leave Chesham wobbling at 10-2. Chesham then rebuilt steadily to move the score to 100-4 at drinks, with the game finely balanced. At 150-5 they looked to have the chase under control. However, tight spells from Beard (2-17) and Kanishka (2-28) brought Thame back into contention. Rooney returned to pick up the key wicket of Tom Free (34), in the penultimate over, to leave Chesham 196-8, requiring 5 runs to win off the last. In a bold move, Kanishka switched from seam to spin for the last over, and drama ensued. The first ball was pulled hard out to Rooney who spilled a difficult chance. With the batsman attempting two, Rooney’s throw dismissed the well-set France for 20. The next ball was a dot and then Chesham’s number 11 was bowled swiping across the line, sparking jubilant scenes at Church Meadow. Thame thus rise to second in the table, with their promotion fate now in their own hands. They travel to bottom of the league Reading this Saturday, hoping to set up a title-decider at home to Aston Rowant on the final day of the season, September 2.

Second XI lose to Horspath in game they should have won

LOSING the toss and being put in to bat, Thame 2nds got off to a rocky start. Horspath 3rds quickly made use of what looked to be an unreliable pitch, with only skipper Matt Furness (35) managing to get many early runs. Richard Carr (44) and Matt Ridgway (48) nevertheless helped to shift the momentum of the game, helping Thame to reach what looked to be a good score of 168 on a difficult batting track. However, with the track flattening out as the day went on and loose bowling from Thame, Jones (34) and Coltman (25) helped steer Horspath towards Thame’s total, which they reached with just 3 balls to go. Sam Lachlan was the pick of the Thame bowlers, with figures of 3-35. Despite the loss, Thame 2nd XI earned 10 points, meaning that they remain in Division 4, with two games to spare.

Four straight wins for thrids after surviving pitch scare

THAME thirds travelled to Islip to face Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts (OBNCC), and were greeted by a minefield of a pitch. Choosing to bowl first, James McStay ripped through most of the top order with a sharp spell of 4-13. Ian McStay (3-12) and John Phippen (2-9)also claimed wickets, with Ed Mather finishing the innings off with his 4th ball. OBNCC could only manage 48, which on this pitch was not a bad score. The chase started badly, as Thame lost 3 early wickets, giving OBNCC a glimmer of hope.

Oli Sutcliffe (13) and Guy Holmes (10) then did the hard work , but with wickets falling John Phippen was left to hit the winning runs with Thame 49-7. The win means Thame secured a shoot-out for promotion between themselves, Tiddington, Challow & Childrey and Oxford Downs in the last 2 games. They welcome Banbury fifths this Saturday.

SOURCE contributed