1st XI v Theale and Tilehurst 1st XI

Abbas is back with a bang for Sonning

Ghulam Abbas returned to spearhead Sonning’s fifth Premier Division title in seven years.

Pakistani pace ace Abbas had missed the start of the season, and although he was not at top pace, he still picked up three wickets in Sonning’s eight-wicket victory over Theale & Tilehurst.

Duncan Parr and an excellent spell from George Troughton helped reduce Theale to a disappointing 138 all out.

And although Sonning lost the wicket of Mark Richards early on, their innings was steadied by former Reading University student Matt Baglow and Steve Roberts.

Baglow hit a solid 51no and Roberts weighed in with 18. But it was an aggressive 48no from Richard ‘JJ’ Harris that enabled Sonning to cruise home with eight wickets and plenty of overs in hand.

Sonning skipper Gary Phillips said: “That puts us back in with a sniff. We weren’t winning at the start of the season, but we are competitive again.

“And as a club things are looking good. We are pretty strong in all three teams and hopefully we can challenge again.�