Stingers Soft Ball v Emmbrook & Bearwood Womens Softball

Stingers Secure Victory in Indoor Softball League Clash

Sonning Stingers Soft Ball claimed a well-deserved win against Emmbrook & Bearwood in the Women's Softball Indoor Division 1, despite the hosts' late fightback threatening to turn the contest on its head.

Emmbrook & Bearwood won the toss and opted to field first, and the Stingers set about building their innings in measured fashion. Captain Michaela Herrett opened proceedings, contributing a steady 9 from 15 balls, while Nic Blunden at number two managed 4 before falling as the only Sonning wicket to fall, dismissed by Hollie Culham. Sarah Wonham provided some impetus in the middle order, striking 10 from 11 deliveries including the innings' sole boundary four, keeping the scoreboard ticking over nicely.

The real catalyst for the Stingers' total, however, was Rita Green, who produced a superb knock of 17 from just 16 balls. Green's innings included a cleanly struck six, and her willingness to find the boundary rope gave the Sonning innings a much-needed boost in the latter stages. Liz Rhodes added a handy 6 from 8 balls at the tail end. With 36 extras — including 14 wides and 20 penalty runs — the Stingers posted 68 for 1 from their 12 overs, a total bolstered significantly by the opposition's loose bowling. Culham was the most expensive of the Emmbrook bowlers, conceding 19 from her two overs including six wides and two no-balls, though she did claim the sole wicket.

In reply, the Stingers made early inroads. Elinor Longridge was the pick of the Sonning bowling attack, taking 2 wickets for 14 runs from her two overs, while Herrett chipped in with 1 for 14 from three overs. Between them, they accounted for three of the four Emmbrook wickets to fall, putting the hosts under considerable pressure through the top order.

Emmbrook's top four struggled to build momentum, with Hollie Culham managing 9 from 16 balls before being dismissed, Anna Alborough hitting a six in her 7 from 8 deliveries, Lindsay Brown contributing 6 off 14, and Darshna Modha adding just 4. However, the complexion of the chase changed dramatically when captain Lucy Prismall came to the crease at number five. Prismall played an aggressive hand, smashing 21 from only 13 balls with three fours, injecting urgency into the Emmbrook innings.

Deepa Ravi provided excellent support at number six, striking 15 from 11 balls with two fours, and the pair's late onslaught proved damaging — particularly against Rita Green, whose three overs went for 31 runs. Despite the late surge pushing Emmbrook to 78 for 4 from their 12 overs, which was 10 runs more than Sonning's total, the result was confirmed in the Stingers' favour, with Sonning taking the four competition points to Emmbrook's one.

Nic Blunden also deserves credit for her economical spell of 3-0-13-0, helping to restrict the scoring during the middle overs when the pressure was at its greatest. It was a solid all-round team display from the Stingers, with contributions across the batting order and disciplined early bowling proving the difference in a competitive Division 1 fixture.