4th XI v Sandhurst 2nd XI

Qadar's Masterclass Overpowers Sonning 4th XI Despite Dawes' Battling Knock

Sonning 4th XI were undone by a stunning unbeaten 93 from Sandhurst opener Atif Qadar as the visitors chased down 149 with five wickets in hand at Reading Blue Coat School in Division 9C on Saturday.

Inserted into bat after Sandhurst won the toss, Sonning found early going difficult against a disciplined bowling attack. Paul Towner fell for 10, caught off captain Archie Sanders, bringing Dhiren Panchal to the crease. Panchal and Elliot Dawes steadied the ship with a partnership of 32 for the second wicket, but a run out ended Panchal's contribution at 9, and the score stood at 48-2. When Shreyas Koppole was bowled by Sajjad Abbasi for just 2, Sonning had slipped to 50-3 and were in need of a significant partnership.

Dawes provided the anchor the innings required. The opener accumulated his runs patiently across 75 deliveries, striking five fours in a top-scoring knock of 37. He and skipper Arun Raghavendra added 32 for the fourth wicket to rebuild the innings, with Raghavendra contributing a brisk 18 from 31 balls including three boundaries. However, when Dawes was caught off Abbasi and Raghavendra followed shortly after, caught off Jack O'Neil, Sonning stumbled to 90-5.

The middle and lower order scraped together useful contributions to push the total beyond 140. Shahbaz Ali struck a rapid 12 from 12 balls before being bowled by Sanders, while Indeveer Sahota remained unbeaten on 16. A late flourish from Aahaan Sharma, who made 9 not out, helped Sonning close on 148-8 from their full allocation of 40 overs. Abbasi was the pick of the Sandhurst bowlers with impressive figures of 2-14 from eight overs including a maiden, while Sanders and O'Neil each claimed two wickets apiece.

Sonning needed early breakthroughs in the chase, and Sahota delivered with a superb opening spell of 6-3-6-1, removing Jack O'Neil for 7, caught by Dawes. Captain Raghavendra then struck in his first spell, having Perry Lewington caught — again by the safe hands of Dawes — for a duck, and suddenly Sandhurst were wobbling at 31-2.

Qadar, however, was unmoved at the other end. The opener had watched partners come and go but never lost his composure, building a crucial stand of 47 with Luke O'Neil for the third wicket. When Shahbaz Ali broke through to have O'Neil caught behind by Yusuf Malik for 11, and then removed Sachin Malhi cheaply for 4 — Dawes pouching his third catch of the innings — Sandhurst were four down at 89 with the match still in the balance.

It was Qadar's partnership with Kevin Speakman that sealed the game. The pair added an unbroken 59 for the fifth wicket, with Speakman providing steady support with 14 from 31 balls before being bowled by Neel Kumar. By then, the damage was done. Qadar, who peppered the boundary with 17 fours during his 95-ball stay, guided Sandhurst home in just 32.1 overs with a commanding unbeaten 93 — an innings that rendered Sonning's bowling efforts ultimately futile despite their best endeavours.

Elliot Dawes can reflect on a fine all-round contribution with bat and in the field, while Sahota's miserly bowling spell was a notable highlight for Sonning. However, Qadar's near-century was simply too much for the home side to contend with on the day.