Wargrave unlikely to finish first after Thame loss
After last weekend’s narrow 14run loss to leaders Harefield, there was further disappointment for second placed Wargrave this weekend as they lost by fivewickets to Thame Town in Home Counties League Division 2.
Neal Robinson’s men should still have enough about them to claim second place, and with-it promotion, as they still hold a healthy 27-point gap over third placed Horspath with three matches to go.
However, they now sit 31 points adrift of leaders Harefield having briefly been in pole position for the title just a few weeks ago with the two teams having gone headto-head for silverware for most of the season.
Perhaps last week’s defeat to Harefield was such a deflating one, they carried a hangover from it into this weekend’s home game with Thame, but whatever the reason, it was a disappointing afternoon with both the bat and ball.
Having elected to bat on winning the toss, Wargrave managed only 198 all out in 36.5 overs, Rhys Lewis managed 41 and Josh Lincoln smashed 61 from 44 balls, but their total was a little underpar given the conditions and Thame – now sixth in the league – sensed that.
They got off to a fine start with Michael Beard (43) and Farid Butt (18) sharing a stand of 49 before Luke Hayes arrived to motor the innings along with his half century 51. Alex Browne also chipped in with a healthy 24 while Dinushka Malan (16no) and Hassam Mushtaq (4no) eased the visitors to 199-5 under no real panic or pressure in the 44th over.
With Harefield having all but wrapped up the title, Wargrave will now be looking over their shoulders a little, ahead of their next two fixtures at bottom club Tring Park on Saturday and home to seventh-placed Amersham the following weekend.