CCS Home Counties League Division 2 West: Seven days after his dad, Steve, turned in a match-winning bowling display for Thame Town, it was birthday boy Luke Merry's turn on Saturday.

After Merry senior had taken 6-61 in the win over Burnham last week, his son captured five wickets as the Division 2 West leaders routed North Maidenhead by eight wickets.

On a pitch suited to the home pace attack of Indian Test player Paras Mhambrey and ex-Hampshire 2nds bowler James Theunnisen, it was the Thame attack led by Luke Merry, celebrating his 21st birthday, that annihilated the opposition.

Merry's first delivery took the edge of opener Morley's bat and Manoj Parmar took a beautiful low catch at slip

His fourth ball trapped left-hander Terrington lbw, so North Maidenhead were 0-2 after the first over. Sam Lachlan soon made it 12-3.

The home side's fate was sealed when Merry bowled Mhambrey - and another wicket for Merry made it 64-5 at lunch.

After Merry had claimed his fifth wicket, there was no let-up for the home batsmen as Partik Mehta took four wickets to clean up the innings for 124.

Merry, bowling throughout, finished with 5-74, while Mehta took 4-8 off 12 overs.

Parmar's half-century guided Thame to victory.

NORTH MAIDENHEAD

A Morley c Parmar b L Merry...0

J Broom c C Wynd b Lachlan...4

D Terrington lbw L Merry...0

K Muller c&b L Merry...26

P Mhambrey b L Merry...16

D Malpass c&b Mehta...19

J Rickman lbw L Merry...1

C Crier b Mehta...4

J Theunnisen c Brooks b Mehta...13

L Atkinson b Mehta...26

M Oozzell not out...0

Extras...15

Total (all out, 49.3 ovs)...124

Bowling: L Merry 24-5-74-5, Lachlan 12-3-26-1, Mehta 12.3-8-12-4, S Merry 1-0-1-0.

THAME TOWN

J Cook c Muller b Theunnisen...6

M Parmar not out...64

C Wynd c Muller b Mhambrey...4

A Wynd not out...32

Extras...9

Total (2 wkts, 30 ovs)...125

Bowling: Mhambrey 12-2-39-1, Theunnisen 8-1-42-1, Atkinson 8-1-29-0, Oozzell 2-0-3-0

Thame 25pts, N Maidenhead 3