Sunday 1s vs Odney

Astwood Steers Sonning to Thrilling Victory in Final Over Chase Against Odney

Sonning CC Sunday 1s successfully chased down a challenging target of 232 in the final over to secure a nail-biting victory against Odney at King George's Field. Captain Charles Astwood led from the front with an unbeaten 60 as Sonning reached their target with just one ball to spare, finishing on 233-9 after 39.5 overs.

Earlier in the day, Astwood won the toss and elected to field, but Odney made good use of their opportunity with the bat. Paul Cook anchored their innings with a well-constructed 54 from 65 deliveries, including 10 boundaries and a six. He received solid support from opener Kelvin Baillie, who contributed 38 runs, striking eight boundaries during his 49-ball stay at the crease.

Sonning's bowlers toiled on a batting-friendly surface, with Toby Fitton emerging as the most successful, claiming 2-53 from his eight overs. Jacob Fitton and Michael Longridge each picked up a wicket, while some sharp fielding produced a crucial run-out. However, a substantial fifth-wicket partnership of 92 between Cook and Ben Wilkinson (26) helped Odney post a competitive total of 231-6 from their allotted 40 overs.

Sonning's chase began disastrously with both openers departing cheaply, leaving them reeling at 10-2. Oliver Rowe provided brief resistance with 22, but at 65-4, the home side's prospects looked bleak. The middle order stepped up when it mattered most, with Syed Naqi compiling a vital 42 from 49 deliveries to rebuild the innings, forming important partnerships with Aarav Tanguturi (19) and Jacob Fitton (23).

Kaine Chiselett was Odney's standout bowler, returning figures of 3-29 from his eight economical overs, while Wes Gale claimed 3-56. The visitors seemed to have the upper hand when Sonning lost their eighth wicket with 50 runs still required, but Captain Astwood remained resolute at the crease.

Astwood's innings was a masterclass in pressure batting, striking eight boundaries during his unbeaten 60 from 51 deliveries. His crucial 25-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Daniel Longridge kept Sonning in the hunt, before combining with Toby Fitton (13 not out) in an unbroken 25-run stand for the final wicket to guide his team to a memorable victory.

The win was especially impressive considering Sonning's early batting struggles, with their recovery from 10-2 and later 96-5 showcasing remarkable resilience. The home side's middle and lower order contributed valuable runs when it mattered most, with five batsmen reaching double figures in a true team performance.