Womens 1st XI v Emmbrook & Bearwood Womens 1st XI

Sonning Women Cruise to Comprehensive Victory at Emmbrook & Bearwood

Sonning Women's 1st XI produced a dominant all-round display to sweep aside Emmbrook & Bearwood in their Division 3 A fixture at Emmbrook and Bearwood CC on Sunday, chasing down 82 without losing a wicket in just 8.1 overs.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Emmbrook & Bearwood found themselves in early trouble as Grace Phillips struck with the new ball. Captain Deepa Ravi was trapped lbw for a duck in just her third delivery, and Liz Rhodes followed soon after, caught behind by wicketkeeper Sophie Parker for 11. Phillips was outstanding with figures of 3-8 from 3.1 overs, including a maiden, removing both openers and later cleaning up Lou Walker to finish as the most economical of Sonning's bowlers.

Hannah MacIndoe showed the most resistance for the hosts, occupying the crease for 35 balls before retiring not out on 5. She and Anna Smy attempted to rebuild, but scoring proved difficult against Sonning's tight bowling attack. Geethika Jyothis was particularly miserly, conceding just a single run from her three overs while bowling two maidens, applying relentless pressure from one end.

Jo Lee provided a brief spark for Emmbrook & Bearwood with 9 off 17 balls, including a boundary, as part of a 43-run third-wicket stand — comfortably the best partnership of the innings. However, captain Katie Barrows broke through with an lbw decision to remove Lee, and the home side's middle and lower order crumbled rapidly.

Belle Myers proved the chief destroyer, claiming 3-23 from her five overs. She bowled Anna Smy for 3 after a painstaking 30-ball stay, had Kate Pobjoy clean bowled for 3, and trapped Nic Blunden lbw for 4. Hannah Brooks chipped in with the wicket of Ella Regent, again caught by Parker behind the stumps, as Emmbrook & Bearwood were bundled out for 81 in 19.1 overs — a total heavily inflated by 45 extras.

The chase was a formality. Geethika Jyothis took the Emmbrook & Bearwood attack apart with a blistering unbeaten 30 off 31 balls, striking six boundaries in a commanding display at the top of the order. Parker was equally assured at the other end, contributing an unbeaten 20 from 28 deliveries with three fours. The Emmbrook & Bearwood bowlers struggled for any control, conceding 32 extras — including 17 wides and 10 no-balls — as Sonning raced to their target without losing a single wicket.

Liz Rhodes had a particularly difficult over with the ball, conceding 20 runs including six no-balls from a single over, while Nic Blunden sent down seven wides in her two overs. The opening pair were never troubled, knocking off the runs with nearly 17 overs to spare in what proved to be a thoroughly one-sided contest. Sonning collected a full 20 league points for the victory.