2nd XI v Braywood 1st XI

Sonning 2nds Fall Short as Haider Century Steers Braywood to Victory

Sonning 2nd XI travelled to The Turnbull Cricket Ground on Saturday for their Division 5B encounter against Braywood, and despite posting a competitive 207 for 6 from their 45 overs, captain Robert Mosley's side were unable to defend the total as the hosts chased it down with nearly six overs to spare.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Sonning's innings got off to a stuttering start. Jameel Ahamed fell for just 3, caught off Uzairuddin Mohammed, before Ankit Sharma's brisk 12 from 16 balls helped Duncan Parr add 36 for the second wicket. Parr himself looked in decent touch, striking four boundaries in his 24 from 39 deliveries, but when he was caught at 55 for 3 off Daud Haider, Sonning found themselves in need of a steadying hand.

Robert Jones provided some resistance with 25 from 53 balls, but the middle order struggled to accelerate. Shenul Widanapathirana made 12 including a six before being run out, and skipper Mosley managed just 14 from 43 balls before he too was dismissed via a run out. At 110 for 6, Sonning were in danger of being bowled out for a below-par total.

What followed was the decisive partnership of the Sonning innings. David Coutts and John Rimmer came together and transformed the complexion of the scorecard with an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 97. Rimmer was the more aggressive of the pair, smashing an unbeaten 52 from just 39 balls with five fours and two sixes. Coutts was equally impressive, finishing 44 not out from 52 deliveries, his knock laced with five boundaries and two maximums. Their onslaught ensured Sonning reached a total that gave them genuine hope.

Braywood's reply began nervously. Hatib Khan struck early, having Amit Gokhru caught by Ahamed for 5, and when Rimmer continued his fine afternoon by removing opener Daud Haider — caught by Parr for 4 off 34 painstaking balls — the hosts were wobbling at 7 for 1. Rimmer then claimed Saksham Singh for 2 to leave Braywood further unsettled, and Shenul Widanapathirana bowled Syed Amer Quadri for 9 to reduce the home side to 71 for 3.

However, Ali A Haider had other ideas. Coming in at number three, he played an innings of supreme quality, dominating the Sonning attack with a magnificent 111 from 97 balls, an assault that included 16 fours and two sixes. He found an equally willing partner in Uzairuddin Mohammed, and together they put on a match-winning stand of 118 for the fourth wicket that effectively killed the contest. By the time Widanapathirana had Haider caught by Mosley, the damage was well and truly done with the score on 189.

Mohammed remained unbeaten on 60 from 67 balls, collecting ten fours in an assured knock that guided Braywood past their target. Ethan Towner did claim two late wickets — Vignesh Venkatesh caught by Widanapathirana and Akash Udayan bowled — to finish with 2 for 36, but these were mere consolation strikes as Braywood reached 211 for 7 in the 40th over. Sonning picked up 11 bonus points from the defeat, but the inability to contain Haider's century assault proved the difference on the day.