U11 Sharks v Littlewick Green Under 11

U11 Sharks Secure Victory Despite Spirited Littlewick Green Reply

Sonning U11 Sharks claimed a hard-fought win against Littlewick Green in their U11 T16 Pairs league fixture at Reading Blue Coat School's Lower Field on 4th June 2023. Captain Charlie Bright won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision that ultimately proved decisive as the Sharks posted 65 for 3 from their 16 overs before restricting the visitors to 84 for 7 — crucially conceding fewer wickets in the pairs format to secure the result.

Batting first, the Sharks found run-scoring difficult against a disciplined opening spell from Littlewick Green. Arnav Bhandal was the pick of the opposition bowlers, claiming 2 wickets for just 3 runs from his two overs in a miserly display that put the home side under early pressure. Harry Warren added a further wicket to keep the Sharks in check, finishing with figures of 1 for 8.

Arnav Basumatary provided the most fluent innings for Sonning, striking 9 from just 9 balls including a well-timed boundary, while Vayun Sori contributed a valuable 7 from 12 deliveries lower in the order. Ella Hanson also found the rope once in her knock of 4. Extras played a significant role in the Sharks' total, with 32 sundries — including 22 wides — swelling the score as Littlewick Green's bowlers occasionally struggled with their accuracy.

In reply, Littlewick Green's batters showed plenty of enterprise. Harry Warren top-scored with 11 from 18 balls, hitting a boundary, while Otto Manson-Bahr added a brisk 8 and captain Ethan Lloyd made 6. However, the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals, which proved costly in the pairs scoring system where each dismissal carries a five-run penalty.

Charlie Bright was the standout performer with the ball for the Sharks, producing a superb spell of 2 for 2 from his two overs — comfortably the most economical figures of the match. His double strike in the middle overs applied real pressure on the Littlewick Green batting line-up and tilted the contest firmly in Sonning's favour.

Logan Powell, Vayun Sori, and Ishan Jithendriya each chipped in with a wicket apiece to ensure the opposition were pegged back throughout their innings. Sori's figures of 1 for 9 and Jithendriya's 1 for 11 kept the pressure building, even as extras — totalling 42 in the second innings with 25 wides — gave Littlewick Green's total a healthy appearance on paper.

Although Littlewick Green accumulated more runs off the bat, the seven wickets lost compared to Sonning's three proved the decisive factor. The Sharks' bowling unit shared the spoils effectively, with five different bowlers claiming wickets, demonstrating a commendable team effort that secured 20 league points and an important win on home soil.