1st XI vs Burnham

11th July 2009

Lost

Sonning Innings

for ( Overs)

Batsmen Runs Balls 4s 6s SR
Mark Richards Out 8
Gary Phillips Out 7
Ian Boyton Out 0
Wade Johnston Out 9
Richard Harris Out 11
Harvey Grout Out 8
Duncan Parr Out 23
Stephen Mankee Out 1
Phil Collier Out 0
Matt Hill Not Out 0
Extras
Bowling Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Economy
Mark Richards 7.0 1 14 3 2.00
Ian Boyton 8.4 0 21 2 2.42
Wade Johnston 14.0 1 55 2 3.93
Harvey Grout 10.0 1 35 3 3.50
Extras
Fielder Catches Run Outs Stumpings
Mark Richards 1 0 0
Richard Harris 1 0 0
Duncan Parr 4 0 0

Match Report

Sonning suffered a demoralising loss at the hands of bottom of the league Burnham on another sub standard pitch that played into the hands of the Burnham spinners. On winning the toss, Skipper Gary Phillips inserted Burnham and all seemed well as Harvey Grout and Wade Johnston bowled with aggression and accuracy finishing with 3 and 2 wickets respectively. They were backed up well by Mark Richards who bagged 3 for 14 and Ian Boyton who snared a couple, one from a great catch in the deep by JJ Harris. Duncan Parr was the star in the field , taking 4 catches in helping dismiss Burnham for 142.

This should have been well within Sonning’s reach, but a combination of poor shot selection, a misbehaving wicket which was popping and spinning dramatically, some interesting umpiring and some good spin bowling, meant that they were always struggling. Only 3 players, Parr, Whitmore and Harris made double figures. To make matters worse, the Burnham side showed some of the worst gamesmanship seen at Sonning for some years, led by the disgraceful captain who did everything in his powers to put batsmen off and exert unfair pressure on the umpires.

All in all a dreadful day! Sonning will have to bat much better than this if they are to achieve their aim of promotion. Let’s hope that the other contributory factors of the poor wicket, umpiring and opposition playing within the spirit of cricket do not go against them so dramatically in future matches.

JJ Harris

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