25/07/12…….CRICKET: Thame fail to avoid defeat against Slough

THAME Town vs Slough – Saturday, July 21, 2012: AFTER two weeks of waterlogged pitches, Thame were relieved to resume their Home Counties Div 2 campaign against Slough. The visitors are one of the stronger sides this season and a favourite for promotion, so Thame were pleased to win the toss and use the bowler-friendly conditions at Church Meadow to put the pressure on.

Thame’s tight bowling restricted Slough to under 100 at lunch, and with four wickets gained, the home side were fancying their chances. Will Rooney continued his good form, and Vandit Jivrajani helped to put Thame on top with four wickets when Slough crawled to 150 all out in the 59th over.

The wicket was always going to favour the bowlers. However, when Thame batted they were faced with ex-international Zulfi Butt, a veteran of the Home Counties leagues. He bowled unchanged from one end to tie the Thame innings down, as wickets fell at regular intervals and none of the home batsmen could get going.

New player ,Jesul Rathod, looked comfortable until playing too early at a good ball, but only Ed Barnett, Manoj Parmar and Pratik Patel joined him in double figures as poor shots and some dubious umpiring decisions removed Thame’s chance of overhauling the Slough total. They were eventually all out for 71 with six overs to go, after shutting up shop but failing to keep out the Slough bowlers. The excellent Butt claimed six wickets in his 22 overs.

Tiddington vs Thame Town

Thame Seconds lost away by four wickets to Tiddington in a low scoring match, whilst Thame Thirds gained some revenge by beating Tiddington Thirds, also by four wickets. The Club is hoping the improved weather will last as the grounds at both Church Meadow and Lord Williams School have suffered considerably through the amount of rain that has fallen in the first half of the season.

SOURCE: Contributed PHOTO: Pratik Patel