27/06/12….Thame cricketers see off London visitors

MATCH REPORT (Contributed) Thame Town First X1 Vs Harefiled – June, 23, 2012: THAME Town hosted London side Harefield in Division Two, West of the Home Counties league on Saturday, hoping to build on their improving form.

After winning the toss, skipper Mike Higgs elected to bowl first. Harefield made a steady start, with their two best batsmen opening and seeing off the new ball in the first few overs. Sam Lachlan then dismissed Nkala and Harefield progressed to 97 for two at lunch, with Macey also dismissed for 60.

The visitors then faltered against accurate bowling, and when Will Rooney came back on, he captured four wickets to claim four for 51 off 14. Harefield were all out for 189 in the 59th over. Vandit Jivrajani also claimed four wickets for 44 off 19.

The Thame innings started well, despite the loss of Mike Higgs for one. James Nielson and Pratik Patel looked in total control until Nielson was caught in the over before tea, leaving Thame on 78 for three. After the break, Ed Barnett, Vandit Jivrajani and Pratik Patel continued the home side?s dominance, taking the score to 170, as the Harefield players began to wilt.

However a flurry of wickets, including a hat-trick for Harefield?s Doug King, left Thame counting down the runs. Manoj Parmar and Harry Desai saw them home in the 44th over, to give Thame a well deserved victory by two wickets.

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THE Second team’s game at Horspath was curtailed by rain, despite 86 from Chris Jeffcock and three for 22 from George Patey, which put Thame in a winning position.

The Thirds gained a victory over Stokenchurch, with Guy Holmes scoring 67 as Thame overhauled the visitors 129 by four wickets.