CRICKET: All-round star Patel keeps Thame alive (From Oxford Mail)

CRICKET: All-round star Patel keeps Thame alive

10:00am Monday 3rd September 2012 in Sport

Pratik Patel produced a superb all-round display to help Thame Town beat Gerrards Cross by three wickets at Church Meadow, and maintain their slim survival hopes in Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2 West.

Patel took 6-48, including a hat-trick, and then hit 62 runs in a man-of-the-match display.

Thame must now win their final match at Aston Rowant to have any chance of overhauling both Shipton and Farnham Royal, which they must do to stay up.

After inserting Gerrards Cross, Patel was the key to their downfall, with his hat-trick removing Dan Hampton, Richard Knudsen and Steve Rimmer across two overs.

Captain Mike Higgs and Vandit Jivrajani chipped in with two wickets apiece as the visitors were all out for 144.

Some poor running reduced Thame to 46-4 in reply. But Patel and Ed Barnett took control with a decisive 74-run partnership.

When Patel and Barnett fell Thame looked nervous as defeat would have spelt relegation.

But Setal Patel and Chris Jeffcock took them over the line at 146-7.

Scores: Gerrards Cross 144 (J Hampton 36no, P Patyel 6-48), Thame Town 146-7 (P Patel 62, E Barnett 36, T Hampton 3-29). Gerrards Cross 8pts, Thame Town 25.

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