4th XI vs Yateley

Astwood's Century Guides Sonning 4th XI to Victory Over Yateley

Captain Charles Astwood led from the front with a magnificent unbeaten century as Sonning 4th XI secured a commanding win against Yateley in Division 10A on Saturday. After winning the toss and electing to field, Sonning's disciplined bowling performance restricted Yateley to 182 all out before Astwood's masterclass steered his side to a six-wicket triumph.

The visitors started positively with Elgan Howells striking four boundaries in a brisk 17, but Stephen Pollard removed both openers to leave Yateley at 30-2. Joshua Gore took the attack to Sonning with a dominant 59 from just 39 deliveries, including 12 fours and a six, sharing a substantial 94-run partnership with captain John Garrett, who compiled a patient 23 from 52 balls.

Medium-pacer Mohammad Hameed broke the pivotal stand when he dismissed Gore, triggering a collapse as Yateley lost their last eight wickets for just 58 runs. Kabir Dave was the chief destroyer, claiming 4-21 from 6.1 overs, while Hameed finished with impressive figures of 3-37. Siobhan Davis chipped in with the final wicket to dismiss Yateley for 182 in the 30th over.

In response, Sonning suffered an early setback when Arun Raghavendra fell lbw to Joshua Gore for just 5, leaving them precariously placed at 16-1. This brought Dave to the crease, who formed a match-defining partnership with his captain. The pair added 121 runs for the second wicket, effectively taking the game away from Yateley's grasp.

Dave contributed a solid 38 from 50 deliveries, including six boundaries, before falling to Joe Lockwood with Sonning well-positioned at 137-2. Despite two further quick wickets – Henry Cook bowled by Gore for 5 and Joshua Jones trapped lbw by Owen Evans for 3 – the result was never in doubt as Astwood continued to dominate.

The Sonning skipper reached his century with a commanding straight drive and remained unbeaten on 108 from 118 balls, his innings decorated with 19 boundaries and one six. His masterful display of batting ensured Sonning reached their target with more than six overs to spare, finishing on 183-4 after 33.4 overs.

For Yateley, Gore was the pick of the bowlers with 2-25 from his eight overs, while Evans (1-26) and Lockwood (1-17) claimed the other wickets, but they had no answer to Astwood's brilliant batting performance as Sonning secured maximum points in the Division 10A encounter.