3rd XI v Littlewick Green 2nd XI

Shafi and Sharma Steer Sonning 3rds to Comfortable Victory at Littlewick Green

Sonning 3rd XI recorded a convincing six-wicket win away at Littlewick Green in Division 8B of the Thames Valley Cricket League, chasing down 124 with 17 overs to spare thanks to an outstanding second-wicket partnership between Aseem Shafi and Ankit Sharma.

Littlewick Green won the toss and opted to bat on their home ground, and their openers Peter Dries and George Waghorn provided a solid platform with a 31-run opening stand. Waghorn was the more aggressive of the two, striking six boundaries in his knock of 29 from 43 balls before being bowled by Ethan Towner. Dries had already departed for 15, caught by Jack Durrant off the bowling of Asad Imam, who was the most economical of Sonning's opening bowlers with figures of 6-2-18-1.

The hosts slipped from 56 for one to 62 for three as Aashmit Ghosh struck twice, first trapping Adrian Hurley lbw for 6 before having Sidharth Komathukattil caught by Jameel Ahamed for 15. Max Williams then launched a counter-attack, smashing six fours in a blistering 31 from just 31 deliveries, but once he fell bowled by Sam Taylor, the lower order crumbled. Taylor was the pick of the Sonning attack, claiming three wickets for 25 runs from his five overs, including the scalps of Williams, Woody Redshaw for a duck, and Chris Leakey for 4. Jameel Ahamed chipped in with the wicket of Max Hanshaw, bowled for nought, while Ethan Towner completed a sharp run out of captain Jack Hesom. Littlewick Green were dismissed for 123 in 31.1 overs.

The Sonning reply began poorly when opener Jameel Ahamed was trapped lbw by Jake Dries for a duck with the score on just 7. That early setback, however, only served to bring together the match-winning partnership of Shafi and Sharma, who combined superbly to add 81 runs for the second wicket and effectively settle the contest.

Shafi was the dominant partner, playing with real authority as he peppered the boundary. He struck nine fours in an excellent knock of 45 from 56 balls before he was finally caught by Max Williams off the bowling of Chris Leakey with the score on 88. Sharma, batting at number three, was the perfect foil, accumulating steadily and rotating the strike intelligently.

Rahul Sood, promoted up the order, maintained the momentum with a brisk 17 from 18 balls, hitting four boundaries before being run out with the score on 109. Captain Shamitha Widanapathirana added a quick 6 before falling caught by Peter Dries off George Waghorn, but Sonning were never in any real danger.

Sharma remained unbeaten on 37 from 50 balls, including five fours, as Sonning reached their target of 127 for four in just 23 overs. The 22 extras conceded by Littlewick Green's bowlers, including 12 wides, further eased the visitors' passage. It was a thoroughly professional performance from Sonning, with six bowlers sharing the wickets in the field and the top order delivering emphatically with the bat.