4th XI vs Henley

Sonning 4th XI Fall Short in Hard-Fought Contest Against Henley

Sonning 4th XI suffered a narrow defeat at Waingels College on Saturday, falling 13 runs short of Henley's total in a tightly contested Division 10A fixture. After winning the toss and electing to field, Sonning's bowlers put in a disciplined display but were unable to prevent Henley posting a competitive 184-8 from their allotted 40 overs.

Syed Adnan was the standout performer with the ball for Sonning, claiming impressive figures of 4-24 from his eight overs. Captain Toby Fitton provided valuable support with 2-37, while Elliott Shaw chipped in with one wicket. However, a significant 56 extras, including 40 wides, ultimately proved costly for the home side.

Henley's innings was built around several useful contributions rather than one dominant performance. Dylan Price top-scored with 28 from 51 balls at the top of the order, while captain Sean Taylor provided late impetus with an unbeaten 36 from 45 deliveries, including one six. Their innings featured several key partnerships, most notably a 49-run stand for the second wicket between Price and Atharv Gupta (18).

In response, Sonning's run chase was spearheaded by a fine half-century from Robert Ray, who struck seven boundaries and one six in his 51 from 60 balls. His 76-run partnership with opener Stephen Jones (29 from 80 balls) appeared to be setting a solid platform at 106-2, but Jones' dismissal triggered a middle-order collapse that saw Sonning lose three wickets for just seven runs.

Ollie Terry provided some resistance with 20, but Conor Quinn's impressive bowling spell of 4-24 from eight overs proved decisive for Henley. Quinn's victims included Ray, Sagar Dave, James Douglas Davis, and Toby Fitton, effectively dismantling Sonning's middle and lower order.

Despite late resistance from Syed Adnan (8 not out) and Elliott Shaw (2 not out), Sonning ultimately closed on a respectable 171-8, finishing 13 runs short of their target. Atharv Gupta supported Quinn well with the ball, claiming 2-33 from his eight-over allocation.

The defeat leaves Sonning reflecting on what might have been, particularly the costly extras conceded in the field and the batting collapse that followed such a promising position. Henley, meanwhile, will be delighted with their all-round team performance and the valuable league points secured on the road.