Stingers Soft Ball v Wargrave Ladies Softball

Stingers Demolish Wargrave with Dominant All-Round Display

Sonning Stingers Soft Ball produced a comprehensive performance at Wargrave Cricket Club on 12th June, posting an imposing 185 for 1 before bowling out the hosts for just 62 to claim a commanding victory in WSB Division 1.

Wargrave won the toss and elected to field, a decision that quickly backfired as Frances Howson set about the bowling attack with considerable intent. Opening the batting, Howson blasted 40 from just 16 balls, striking eight fours and a six in a breathtaking display of clean hitting that set the tone for the entire innings. The Wargrave bowlers struggled throughout, conceding 55 extras — 42 of which came in wides — as discipline deserted them under pressure.

The middle order maintained the momentum with Rita Green smashing 24 from 13 deliveries, including two sixes and two fours, while Melissa Pengraeve contributed a fluent 23 from 15 balls laced with five boundaries. Sophie Parker added a brisk 14 from nine balls lower down the order, and Siobhan Davis chipped in with 10. Every Stingers batter got off the mark as captain Sharon Fleming's side batted with freedom and purpose throughout their 16 overs. Wargrave's Karen P bore the brunt, conceding 40 runs from her two overs, while Alex Jennings leaked 27 including 13 wides and six no-balls. Becky Strode was the only Wargrave bowler to claim a wicket.

Chasing 186 for victory, Wargrave's reply never gained any traction. Amanda Bayley offered the only real resistance at the top of the order, hitting four fours in her 17 from 11 balls, but wickets tumbled regularly around her. Alex Jennings was dismissed four times in the innings, while several of her teammates were unable to trouble the scorers in any meaningful way.

Howson proved just as dangerous with the ball as she had been with the bat, returning outstanding figures of 3 for 7 from three overs to rip through the Wargrave top order. Sophie Parker claimed 2 for 7 from her two overs, while Rita Green delivered a miserly spell of 1 for 2 that included a maiden over. Amberley Taylor contributed 1 for 14 from three overs with a maiden of her own, and Melissa Pengraeve rounded off the bowling effort with 1 for 7.

The Wargrave batting lineup found runs desperately hard to come by, with captain Zoe Howe managing 11 and Samantha Hood scoring 10 as the only batters aside from Bayley to reach double figures. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 62, with 11 wickets falling across the innings — a stark illustration of the Stingers' bowling dominance.

The 123-run victory was built on contributions across the squad, but Frances Howson's superb all-round performance of 40 runs and 3 wickets for just 7 runs stood as the defining individual display of the evening, securing a thoroughly deserved 10 league points for Sharon Fleming's travelling side.