CCS Home Counties League Division 2 West: Thame Town completed the first half of the season with a nine-wicket annihilation of an NPL Teddington , who are surely bound to return to the Hertfordshire League.

Thame inserted Teddington on a docile pitch where the only demons were those in the minds of the batsmen

They were repeatedly outclassed by Luke Merry's hostile barrage of bouncers, backed by Sammy Lachlan's nagging length and late in-swing.

After Lachlan removed both openers, Merry's first wicket came courtesy of a stunning one-handed catch at silly mid-off by young Rob Layton.

At 31-3, the bells started tolling the neighbouring St Mary's Church.

Partik Mehta struck next when Adam Krol took a diving bat-pad catch.

Nick Churchman struck a memorable six off Mehta that startled crows in the trees near Thame Road, but soon succumbed to Steve Merry to leave the visitors on 75-5 after 35 overs at lunch.

Teddington's capitulation immediately afterwards was abject in the extreme, lacking any guts or determination.

Teddington lost their last five wickets for eight runs in seven overs to be all out for 83.

Steve Merry took 3-8 off 11 overs, while Mehta returned 4-19 off 12, but neither had to bowl well to claim their victims.

Teddington handed the ball around to those who might be interested in bowling.

It was a surprise when Manoj Parmar gave a soft catch after making 28, while Adam Krol and James Cook completed the victory with a flurry of fours around 4pm.

NPL TEDDINGTON

B Crockford b Lachlan...4

R Royce c Brooks b Lachlan...9

B Wooster c Krol b Mehta...8

S Garvie c Layton b L Merry...1

N Churchman b S Merry...25

J De La Pena lbw S Merry...13

A Darby not out...3

H Thomas b Mehta...0

A Klimcke b Mehta...0

A Roberts c Parmar b S Merry...0

G Salter b Mehta...1

Extras...19

Total (all out, 41.4 ovs)...83

Bowling: L Merry 12-4-31-1, Lachlan 9-3-10-2, Mehta 11.4-3-19-4, S Merry 11-3-8-3.

THAME TOWN

J Cook not out...19

M Parmar c Thomas b Darby...28

A Krol not out...24

Extras...14

Total (1 wkt, 18.5 ovs)...86

Bowling: De La Pena 6-3-11-0, Klimcke 4-0-19-0, Darby 4-0-8-1, Salter 2-0-16-0, Crockford 1.5-0-16-0, Garvie 1-1-0-0.

Thame 25pts, Teddington 1