Almost a perfect weekend for Thame cricketers – Match reports

THAME Town Cricket Club’s 1st XI welcomed Cookham Dean to Church Meadow last Saturday (May 28) and were in the field after losing the toss. Will Rooney and Sam Lachlan set the tone with the new ball, but some strong hitting throughout the innings saw the visitors keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Matt McDonald

A flurry of wickets then put Thame in charge but, in a game that ebbed and flowed throughout, the Cookham Dean tail wagged to reach a competitive 215. In reply, Thame lost key wickets at regular intervals in a stuttering chase. Overseas player Matt McDonald held the innings together with a well made 50 but when he fell, Thame were in trouble. Some late heroics from youngsters Dan Patey and Adam Phippen saw the total within reach, but ultimately it was too little too late as Thame fell just five runs short.

The ‘firsts’ travel to local rivals Aston Rowant this Saturday, June 4.

Second XI remain unbeaten

THAME ‘seconds’ travelled to play Kingston Bagpuize and were asked to bat on a good-looking track. This seemed to be a strange decision as Richard Carr (57) and Andy Jinman (21) put on an opening stand of 86 off just 18 overs. With both openers gone in quick succession however, the Thame innings stumbled to 137 for 7, and it was only a resolute 41 from Liam Evans that enabled Thame to make an aggressive declaration at 200 for 9 off 47 overs. That gave Kingston Bagpuize 53 overs to reach their target and at 100 for 1, with Toby Ricks (51) and Marco Cecchini (44) going well, the home side looked comfortable.

It was the introduction of Ali Thomas (16.3-2-54-4), the return of Ian McStay (17-0-47-5) and a catch by Evan Davies on the boundary that changed the game. The hosts gamely continued to go for the win, as wickets fell regularly, but their innings came to an abrupt end with two wickets in Thomas’s final over. Still unbeaten and heading Division five of the Cherwell League, Thame ‘seconds’ entertain Leighton Buzzard ‘seconds’ on Saturday, June 4.

Third XI fightback to beat Dinton

THAME ‘thirds’ beat Buckingham Town fourth XI by 49 runs at home, and remain undefeated in the league this season. Thame were struggling at 42-5 after 14 overs, but Matt Swain weighed in with a patient 33, and John Phippen ended with 18 not out as they recovered to make a still-disappointing total of 114 all out after 34 overs.

After the tea interval, Nicholas Fuller’s opening blitz of 3 for 20 set the fightback in motion, followed by Vimal Desai, who picked up two wickets and by Scott Chappell’s exceptional performance, including four wickets, two catches and a run out to leave Buckingham all out for 65. Thame ‘thirds’ entertain Dinton ‘thirrds this Saturday, June 4.