Unlikely victory for Thame Town Cricket Club (Contributed)

THAME pulled off the most unlikely victory in its Home counties clash at Wokingham last Wednesday, 10/07/09.
Twice Wokingham were in the absolute ascendancy and both times Thame demonstrated resilience and determination to dig themselves out of a mire. Having won the toss Thame invited Wokingham to on a wicket that promised to support the efforts of the seam attack and promise a torrid time for the openers. Both Merry and Lachlan worked hard butbeat the bat regularly and often felt the pinch a a rapid out field. With the match losing 16 overs to rain the Thame bowlers found momentum hard to find and saw Wokingham move to a formidable position of 120 for 1 on a difficult pitch. Thame again mixed their bowlers well and saw excellent spells from beard (2-20), Bhatti (2-9) and Higgs (3-14) backed by some fine catches, claw their way back into the match and leave the home team losing 9 wickets for 63 run after lunch.

Thame, buoyant after such a fight-back, had a poor start and lost the top order in a flurry of wickets reaching 55 for 7leaving129 for victory in an unlikely 27 overs. The loss of Barnett saw the ever reliable Sam Lachlan who played a match winning innings ( 37*) by batting with great determination and frustrate the efforts of the Wokingham attack.

Brooks and Lachlan worked away at the Wokingham attack aided by some very attacking fields as Wokingham chased the 25 points.

The game developed into Thame needing 34 from 4 overs to win. A succession of boundaries from skipper Brooks (92*) saw Thame to victory with one over to spare and a record 8th wicket partnership of 129 for the club.

Photo courtesy of ‘gusloid’ flickr