1st XI vs Slough

Higginbottom and Zahid Star as Sonning Crush Slough with Dominant Display

Sonning CC 1st XI secured a comprehensive victory against Slough 2nd XI at King George's Field on Saturday, with standout performances from both bat and ball ensuring a commanding win in their Division 2B fixture.

After winning the toss, Slough elected to field, a decision they would soon regret as Sonning captain Peter Higginbottom led from the front with a patient 75 from 130 deliveries. Despite losing Mannu Rawat early for just 9 runs, Higginbottom found an ideal partner in Mohammed Zahid, and the pair proceeded to build a match-defining partnership.

Zahid played with controlled aggression, accumulating 81 not out from 91 balls, including 11 boundaries and a six. His partnership with Higginbottom yielded 152 runs for the second wicket, providing the backbone of Sonning's imposing total of 175-2 from their allotted 40 overs. Slough's bowling attack struggled to contain the pair, with only Kazim Naqvi (1-24) and Dilraj Malhi (1-43) managing to take wickets.

Chasing 176 for victory, Slough's innings started positively with Syed Bukhari striking two boundaries in his quick 10 runs before falling to Mohammed Zahid with the score on 13. Sagar Chand offered brief resistance with 15 runs, but once he was bowled by Zanoxolo Gift Kwatsha, Slough's innings unraveled dramatically.

Zahid and Kwatsha tore through the Slough batting lineup with remarkable efficiency, sharing all ten wickets between them. Zahid finished with exceptional figures of 5-26 from his ten overs, including three maidens, while Kwatsha was equally devastating, claiming 5-32 from his ten-over spell.

Only Dilraj Malhi (14) and Muhammad Talha Gulzar (10) managed to reach double figures for Slough as they collapsed to 62 all out in just 20 overs. The procession of wickets included three lbw dismissals and four catches, highlighting the Sonning bowlers' control and accuracy throughout the innings.

The 113-run victory keeps Sonning firmly in contention in Division 2B, with the all-round performance of Mohammed Zahid—81 not out with the bat and 5-26 with the ball—particularly impressive. For Slough, a difficult day in the field was compounded by their batting collapse, leaving them with much to reflect on as the season progresses.