Stingers Soft Ball v Wargrave Ladies Softball

Pengraeve's Explosive 28 Steers Stingers to Commanding Victory Over Wargrave

Sonning Stingers Soft Ball posted an imposing total of 102 for 1 from their 12 overs before restricting Wargrave to just 65 for 5 in reply, securing a comprehensive victory in the Berkshire Women's Softball Performance – East league fixture on 12th June 2022.

Batting first after Wargrave won the toss and elected to field, the Stingers made a strong start through their opening pair. Chloe Bailey struck 13 from just 9 balls, including a four and a six, while Siobhan Davis was equally aggressive at number two, cracking three fours on her way to 16 off 9 deliveries. Sandhya Sharma continued the momentum at three, matching Davis's boundary count with three fours in her brisk 14 from 8 balls.

Captain Sharon Fleming contributed a handy 7 from 5 balls, but the standout innings came from Melissa Pengraeve, who produced a devastating knock of 28 from just 11 balls batting at number seven. Pengraeve struck five fours and a towering six in an innings that shifted the total from competitive to formidable. Her boundary-laden display ensured the Stingers made full use of the closing overs.

Wargrave's bowling attack struggled for consistency throughout. Ammara Qureshi bore the brunt of the punishment, conceding 30 runs from her two overs, while Zahra Karrim leaked 10 from a single over that included eight wides. Extras proved costly for the visitors, with 42 additional runs swelling the Stingers' total — 16 of those coming from wides alone. Richa Bhalla was the only Wargrave bowler to claim a wicket, dismissing Sudaf Waheed during her single over.

In reply, Wargrave never looked likely to threaten the target. The Stingers' bowlers applied consistent pressure from the outset, with Frances Howson setting the tone with figures of 1 for 9 from her two overs. Sudaf Waheed, despite a quiet time with the bat, proved her worth with the ball, returning 1 for 7 from two tidy overs.

Siobhan Davis rounded off an excellent all-round display by taking 1 for 4 from her two overs of bowling, having already top-scored in the first innings. The Wargrave batting order found runs difficult to come by, with Misba Bhatti and Zahra Karrim both failing to score from their nine balls apiece, while Zobia Ahmed managed just a single from 10 deliveries and was dismissed twice during her innings.

Richa Bhalla offered some resistance at the top of the Wargrave order with 11 from 10 balls, and Raabia Akhter struck two fours in her 10, but these contributions were isolated in an otherwise subdued batting display. Ammara Qureshi added 8, though it was never enough to mount a serious challenge.

The 37-run margin of victory reflected the Stingers' dominance across all departments, with Pengraeve's match-defining knock and a disciplined collective bowling effort proving the difference in this one-sided contest.