4th XI v Maidenhead & Bray 5th XI

Sonning 4th XI Fall Short Despite Spirited Chase Against Maidenhead & Bray

Sonning 4th XI were left to rue a devastating century from Prashant Sharma as Maidenhead & Bray claimed victory in this Division 9C encounter at Reading Blue Coat School on Saturday. Despite a commendable batting display in reply that saw six batsmen reach double figures, Sonning could not overhaul the visitors' imposing total of 234 for 6, finishing on 217 for 3 from their 40 overs.

Maidenhead & Bray captain Tim Child won the toss and chose to bat, but his side found themselves in early trouble as Arthur Parkes struck twice to reduce the visitors to 24 for 2. Child was caught behind by wicketkeeper Yusuf Malik for just 2, before Shiva Ganta edged to Alastair Parkes in the cordon for 4. The home side sensed an opportunity to seize control of the contest.

That opportunity, however, was extinguished by a breathtaking innings from Prashant Sharma. Coming in at number four with the scoreboard reading 24 for 2, Sharma launched a brutal assault on the Sonning bowling attack, striking 20 fours and two sixes in a magnificent 119 from just 78 balls. While wickets continued to tumble at the other end — Jack Perkins, Kenny Turnbull and Jerome Amulraj all falling cheaply to leave Maidenhead & Bray at 94 for 5 — Sharma remained unmoved, carrying his side through a potentially perilous passage of play.

The match-defining partnership came between Sharma and Dan Callieu, who added 131 for the sixth wicket. Callieu played the perfect foil, accumulating steadily on his way to an unbeaten 75 from 108 deliveries, laced with 12 boundaries. Captain Arun Raghavendra eventually had Sharma caught by Arthur Parkes to end the stand, but the damage was done. Raghavendra finished as the pick of the Sonning bowlers with 3 for 40 from his eight overs, while Arthur Parkes returned figures of 2 for 28.

Needing 235 to win, Sonning's reply began positively as Matthew Dawes and Bharat Rathod put on 72 for the opening wicket. Dawes was the aggressor, cracking seven fours in a fluent 40 from 41 balls, while Rathod contributed a brisk 17 from 15 deliveries before being bowled by Harry Davis. Dawes followed shortly after, caught by Dan Callieu off Matt Armstrong's bowling at 89 for 2.

A brief wobble saw Elliot Dawes bowled by Jerome Amulraj for 33, leaving Sonning at 97 for 3, but Alastair Parkes steadied the innings with a patient half-century. Parkes anchored the middle order with 57 from 71 balls, adding 51 for the fourth wicket alongside Yusuf Malik. Arun Raghavendra contributed 25 from 37 balls further down the order, while Aahaan Sharma remained unbeaten on 14, but the required rate climbed beyond reach during the middle overs as Armstrong's tight spell of 1 for 17 from eight overs strangled the scoring.

Despite collecting seven batting bonus points and three bowling bonus points from the match, Sonning were ultimately undone by Sharma's extraordinary century, which proved the difference between the two sides on a day when runs flowed freely at Reading Blue Coat School.