04/07/13…Mixed fortunes for Thame cricketers

THAME Town Cricket Club’s Firsts came unstuck defending a decent total at Shipton-under-Wychwood on Saturday (29/06), eventually losing by four wickets in the Cherwell League Division One.

Batting first, Thame got off to a good start, and a middle-order stand of 83 between Deon Laubscher and Will Sutcliffe (33) put the visitors on course for a big score. Laubscher was eventually out for 90, but the remaining Thame batsmen could not maintain the momentum in the face of good spin bowling from Shaun Miller, and they finished on 230 for 8.

When Shipton batted, the home side exploited their ground’s small boundaries, and Jason Hunt scored 85. Sam Lachlan (3 for 53) and Mike Higgs (3 for 58) pegged them back, but the total was eventually overhauled in the penultimate over for the loss of six wickets.

Didcot vs Thame Town

Thame had a better result in the Bernard Tollett Cup, when they travelled to Didcot on Tuesday (02/07) and won by 22 runs. Thame scored 113 off their 18 overs, with Mike Higgs smashing 44 in five overs to set up the win.

Didcot could not get the accurate Thame bowling away, with seamer John Phippen (3 for 12) and spinner Higgs (2 for 12) the most impressive. Thame are now in the semi-finals and next face either Horspath, Banbury or Great Tew.